We all desire repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. But these concepts are complicated, and seeing them from a Jewish perspective on biblical law can provide a fresh perspective to non-Jews. In this episode, the discussion of repentance and forgiveness continues with Rabbi Shalom Carmy and Dru Johnson. They distinguish between the action of repentance and the intention of repentance and question whether you can really reconcile without both. They also consider group forgiveness, and whether any one member of a group can facilitate reconciliation on behalf of the group. Growing in these practices, and doing them biblically, requires sustained and frequent reflection on their significance.
Shalom Carmy is Assistant Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Bible at Yeshiva University. He specializes in biblical interpretation and modern Jewish thought, and writes for several religious and Jewish publications. He previously wrote “And God Saw Their Deeds”: Biblical Repentance in Action (and Less So in Feeling) for The Biblical Mind.
Show notes:
0:00 Actions versus words
3:32 Repentance and forgiveness for groups
7:00 Forgiveness in the Holocaust
13:03 Commanding repentance
17:28 Yom Kippur
20:39 Regret, confession, and resolve
26:17 Progressing in repentance
28:08 The inner experience of reconciliation
32:27 What is real forgiveness?

Show notes by Micah Long
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.