"O remember not against us former iniquities"

Synopsis

While travelling with Rabbi Chizkiyah and Rabbi Yosi, Rabbi Yehuda explains the verse, "O remember not against us former iniquities." We learn that because of Yisrael's sins, the Other Side and the heathen nations came to rule over the land of Yisrael. Knowing that they could not exist in the world without the mercy and compassion of God, they pray to Him so that He will remove their sins and protect them from the judgment of the Other Side.

Relevance

The knowledge and certitude that only God can protect us from the harsh accusations of the Other Side are awakened within us. The spiritual truth that we are never victims of other people's wickedness is made clearer in our own mind. Moreover, accountability for our own negative actions is kindled, inspiring us to seek out the Light of The Creator to help redeem us from our internal demons and selfish aspirations. This Light of redemption shines for all those who devoutly meditate upon the mystical letters of Hebrew with a contrite heart.

Compassion Love Other Side Sin Torah

410. Rabbi Chizkiyah, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Yehuda were journeying along the road. Rabbi Yosi said, Let each of us discourse upon the Torah. Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion with the verse, "O remember not against us former iniquities, let Your tender mercies speedily come to meet us" (Tehilim 79:8). Come and see, The Holy One, blessed be He, in His love for Yisrael, as they are His lot and portion, lets no one judge them but Himself. When He does, He is filled with compassion for them, like a father for his children, as it says, "As a father pities his children, so Hashem..." (Tehilim 103:13). If it is found that they have sinned, He removes the sins one by one, until all are removed from before Him, so that now they remain sinless so is no power for the Other Side to judge them ON THEIR ACCOUNT.

410. ר' חִזְקִיָּה וְר' יוֹסֵי וְר' יְהוּדָה הֲווֹ אָזְלֵי בְּאוֹרְחָא, א"ר יוֹסֵי, כָּל חַד וְחַד מִינָן, לֵימָא מִלֵּי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא. פְּתַח ר' יְהוּדָה וַאֲמַר, אַל תִּזְכָּר לָנוּ עֲוֹנוֹת רִאשׁוֹנִים מַהֵר יְקַדְמוּנוּ וגו.' תָּא חֲזֵי, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בִּרְחִימוּתָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, רָחֵים לוֹן, דְּאִינוּן עַדְבֵיהּ וְאַחְסַנְתֵּיהּ, לָא מִסְתַּכַּל אָחֳרָא בְּדִינַיְיהוּ, בַּר אִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדֵיהּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּאִיהוּ מִסְתַּכֵּל בְּדִינַיְיהוּ, אִתְמָלֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ רַחֲמִין, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ כְּאָב דְּרָחֵים עַל בָּנִים, כְּד"א כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים רִחַם ה' וגו.' וְכֵיוָן דְּאִשְׁתַּכַּח לוֹן חוֹבִין, מַעֲבָר לוֹן רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן, עַד דְּאַעֲבַר לוֹן לְכֻלְּהוּ מִקַּמֵּיהּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּאַעֲבַר לוֹן מִקַּמֵּיהּ, לָא אִשְׁתָּאַר עֲלַיְיהוּ חוֹבִין לְמֵיהַב שָׁלְטָנוּ לְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא דְּדִינָא עֲלַיְיהוּ.

Deeds Sin

411. When they sin before Him as before, He is AGAIN reminded of the first sins, which were already removed. Therefore it is written, "O remember not against us former iniquities, let Your tender mercies speedily come to meet us." Unless Your tender mercies come upon Yisrael, they would not be able to exist in the world, for numerous adversaries and accusers await Yisrael from above. For unless the Holy One, blessed be He, would speedily send His mercies upon Yisrael before judging them, they would not be able to exist in the world. Therefore, "let Your tender mercies speedily come to meet us, for we are very poor" -- poor in good deeds and in honest deeds.

411. אָתֵי לְמֵיחַב קַמֵּיהּ כִּדְבְּקַדְמֵיתָא, אִינוּן חוֹבִין קַדְמָאֵי דְּאַעֲבַר מִקַּמֵּיהּ חָשֵׁיב עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְע"ד כְּתִיב אַל תִּזְכָּר לָנוּ עֲוֹנוֹת רִאשׁוֹנִים מַהֵר יְקַדְמוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ וגו.' דְּאִי רַחֲמֶיךָ לֹא יַקְדִּימוּ עֲלַיְיהוּ דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לָא יָכְלִין לְקָיְימָא בְּעַלְמָא. בְּגִין, דְּכַמָּה אִינוּן מָארֵי דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, מָארֵי תְּרֵיסֵין, וְכַמָּה דִלְטוֹרִין דְּקָיְימֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ, דְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְעֵילָא, וְאִלְמָלֵא דְּאַקְדֵּים קוּדְשָׁא ב"ה רַחֲמִים עֲלַייהוּ דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד לָא יַשְׁגַּח בְּדִינֵיהוֹן, לָא יָכְלִין לְקָיְימָא בְּעַלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא מַהֵר יְקַדְמוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ כִּי דַלוֹנוּ מְאֹד, דַּלּוּתָא דְעוֹבָדִין טָבִין, דַּלּוּתָא דְּעוֹבָדִין דְּכָשְׁרָן.

Deeds Head Idolatry

412. תָּא חֲזֵי אִלְמָלֵי יְסַגְּלוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבָדִין דְּכָשְׁרָן קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְרִיךְ הוּא, לָא הֲווֹ קָאִימוּ עֲלֵיהּ עַמִּין עעכו"ם בְּעַלְמָא, אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אִינוּן גָּרְמִין לִשְׁאָר עַמִּין עכו"ם לְזָקְפָא רֵישַׁיְיהוּ בְּעַלְמָא, דְּאִלְמָלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא יְהוֹן חָטָאן קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שְׁאָר עַמִין עכו"ם אִתְכַּפְיָין קַמַּיְיהוּ.

Deeds Evil Land of Yisrael Other Side

413. וְתָא חֲזֵי, אִלְמָלֵא דְּאַמְשִׁיכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעוֹבָדִין בִּישִׁין, לִסְטַר אָחֳרָא בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, הָא אִתְּמָר, דְּלָא שָׁלְטוּ שְׁאָר עַמִּין עעכו"ם בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְלָא אִתְגָּלוּ מֵעַל אַרְעָא, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, כִּי דַלּוֹנוּ מְאֹד, דְּלֵית לָן עוֹבָדִין דְּכָשְׁרָן כִּדְקָא חָזֵי, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כִּי דַלּוֹנוּ מְאֹד מַהֵר יְקַדְמוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ.