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AddReply(242335,"Jack-its the flesh!   its in All of us.","les","Ayr","10/25/07","How it is so easy to relate to your words but we Must be forgiving for G-d himself forgave us by sending a propitiation for our sins! We must believe in Him or be damned. A tree falls in only one direction and we are given that choice.  Its like love or hate. Do we love Hashem or reject him, [hate] I can only speak for myself but my heart goes out to you in love and respect for your personal thoughts. [greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world]");
AddReply(228537,"Closer to HOME...","First Woman","on my way!","08/29/07","I won\'t be able to forgive those who really wanted Moshe Feiglin to win the Likud Chairmanship but didn\'t vote for him when they had the chance recently. For the record, I am on my way to aliyah RIGHT NOW and won\'t be able to vote for at least a year. How long will it be before we have the golden opportunity again???");
AddReply(228421,"To Shimon (#9)","rutimizrachi","Chu\"l: 42 days","08/29/07","I do not know where it is recorded; but I am sure you can find the story. The excellent Jack left out a small but critical detail: The Chofetz Chaim was UNABLE to forgive the people for the slight. They were not insulting Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan (the Chofetz Chaim), in his opinion; rather, they were being mean and disrespectful to a common beggar, the person they perceived him to be. Just as I, who was not alive during the Holocaust, am not permitted to forgive any Nazi who might deign to ask my forgiveness, the Chofetz Chaim could not forgive those people. The only person who COULD forgive them for such a slight would be a common beggar.");
AddReply(228418,"The Challenge of Forgiving","rutimizrachi","Baltimore Chu\"l","08/29/07","I know what you mean. When I decided to \"become legal\"(Daddy was a Polish Jew, Mommy a lapsed Catholic, yada-yada), the daughter of a rabbi said to me, \"I\'m sorry, but you can\'t ever become Jewish.\" It took me a long time to forgive her. Once I realized that she simply lacked knowledge (about this and many other facets of Judaism), then I merely felt sorry for her. Without contempt, I realized that she simply did not know very much. If we lived in the same town still, I would now reach out to her, and try to learn with her. Gush Katif and Amona are going to be harder; but I am convinced that we can repair even this. And I think it is critical that we do. It may well be the test of our generation: will we achieve achdut, or will we destroy ourselves, as our forebears did, when some of the righteously indignant burned the grain meant to feed their people through Rome\'s seige? ");
AddReply(228300,"Hatred Of Jews","The Learned Elder","Of Zion, Texas","08/29/07","Just happens to be a contageous behavioral disturbance of the gentiles(and more than a few self-loathing Jews who hate themselves and their people)with strong overtones of Tourette\'s Syndrome symptoms. More than a few physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists have so stated.  This disorder spreads horizontally---from person to person and vertically---across the centuries.  There is no cure.  Two outstanding symptoms present themselves: 1. Expressing JewHatred by embracing the enemies of Jews---arabs.  2. Spontaneous and involuntary spewing of cursing, screaming, swearing, lying, vomiting up anti-Jewish canards---all without any foundation, basis, rationale---like the Amanpour, for example.  J.Carter, for another.  Best we can do is know we are dealing with a disease, not something Jews have said or done. Then protect, defend, and offend against this affliction. WE FEEL THEIR PAIN!Hah!");
AddReply(228290,"Prerequisite To Forgiveness","Frank","NYC","08/29/07","REPENTANCE .... and DON\'T forget it !!!!!!!!");
AddReply(228244,"Thank you, Jack.","alex","new york","08/28/07","Thank you, Jack.\nBy this I don\'t mean that I agree or disagree with you. Look at the comments. As long as we have postings like this AND those comments - we are on the right track. By we, Jews, I mean people created by G-d as a reflection. Let\'s be strong AND forgivable. It\'s a challenge. But not the first time in our history.");
AddReply(228242,"Thank you, Jack. ","alex","New York","08/28/07","Thank you, Jack. \nI don’t mean by this that I agree/disagree with you. \nLook at the comments. \nAs long as we have postings like this AND those comments – we are on the right track. By “we”, Jews, I mean people, created by G-d as a reflection. Let’s be strong AND forgivable. It’s a challenge. But not the first time in our history. \n");
AddReply(228240,"Only G-d can forgive some things","Rifkah","Los Angeles, CA","08/28/07","If people were meant to forgive all things in their entirety, then there would be no accountability.  Even Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof) could go only so far with forgiveness and flexibility and drew a line in the sand when he said “there is no other hand.”  The Bible tells us that retribution is acceptable in certain cases:  Exodus 21, 12:  “Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.”  There are other cases where no forgiveness is mentioned, but rather the penalty is cited:  Exodus 21.1-22 15, “Whoever strikes a father or mother shall be put to death, “ and 17, “Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.“ If cursing parents merits death, then why should throwing them out into the street, taking away their homes and livelihood merit forgiveness?\n\n");
AddReply(228213,"Enjoyed the Article","Carey","Idaho Falls","08/28/07","Forgiveness is spiritual warfare - only a true warrior rises above the taunts of his enemies and turns vitriol to victory.");
AddReply(228169,"honest piece","shuki","","08/28/07","this is an honest piece jack. i think it deserves more consideration by you and all of us. how do we deal with lingering pain from hurts, both individuall and collectively?  individually, it says in the talmud that there were rabbis who forgave everyone who hurt them each night before bed to have a clean slate.  collectively, i think more prayer is involved here. prayer for the jewish people to come together, for H\' to help us. i think here more prayer and positive activity is needed. we must be careful with our bitterness to not let it poison us. lastly we get credit for wanting or even intending to forgive and still not being able to....specifically re gush katif...i think the energy of bitterness there needs to be sent to help the people.  this is not easy work, but we have to try to work with the energy so it doesn\'t harm us.");
AddReply(228155,"jack, Galut Jews have forgotten","jew","in israel","08/28/07","jack, Galut Jews have forgotten what it is to be a real Jew, strong, proud, and with Torah values, not western \'shtuyot\' (nonsense).  They are good people, but when one lives under a goyish government, at their mercy, and is also influenced by their culture and values, it makes even good Jews go off course. So the Jewish guy who wouldn\'t help you with Israel because he was too busy....  he has FORGOTTEN what it is to be a Jew.  And the people who are just plain mean, or \'users\' have just absored the ME FIRST societal values in the west.  COME HOME jack, and see what REAL JEWS are.  And nevermind those here who support surrendering land to arabs...  THEY TOO are bereft of Jewish values.  But they are NOT the majority here in israel. Remember, Olmert and Kadima won by only about 22% of the votes.  And 25% of Israelis are not even Jewish. They\'re arabs and others. COME HOME, Jack.");
AddReply(228145,"Sad Piece","Larry","","08/28/07","Jack\'s pieces are usually sad; this one is hopeless. As Jews, I think we can not live without hope. I think this hope is what allowed the halutzim to do their work. It is what gave Orde Wingate and his Jewish soldiers energy. It is what \'informed\' soldiers in Israel\'s wars. I think Jack and Arlene should fall silent when consumed by hopelessness. ");
AddReply(228137,"To Choni from the author","jacke","New York","08/28/07","Of course, I did check the spelling amid a dozen rabbinic sources before I went on with this piece, and found both to be equally acceptable, Lashon Hora and Lashon Hara. \n\nAs for your complaint re my equating personal slights in America with major sins in Israel, well, yes.\n\nWe have it from our rabbis, pretty much a rule that in writing, one is to move from the specific to the general and from the general to the specific; from minor to major, from major to minor.\n\nIndeed, I do see minor personal slights, the tiny insults we encounter every day, as foreshadowing major sins. The clerk who is rude to you at the post office is the same type of character who cracked heads in Gush Katif. We also learn from our rabbis, as you know, that small sins lead to big sins. Jack Engelhard\n\n");
AddReply(228116,"where is this recorded?","Shimon","","08/28/07","Can I have ANY reference to where it is recorded that the Chafetz Chaim refused to forgive people for insulting him?\nI have never heard any such story before.\n");
AddReply(228089,"Not your best","Choni Davidowitz","","08/28/07","Not your best Jack.\nWhy equate some minor personal experience in America with major sins in Israel.\nI agree with not forgiving the Gush Katif expellors and the cruel policeman, but your personal \"enemies\" do not interest me.\nP.S. It is Lashon Hara not Hora (an Israeli \"dance\".\nKind Regards");
AddReply(228082,"When One Has Emunah, One Can Easily Forgive","Moshe","Jerusalem","08/28/07","As a corollary to my first comment, pray also for emunah--faith. Believing that Hashem is orchestrating your life just perfectly and that every insult and pain which comes to you is in order to fix things you\'ve damaged will allow you to forgive anything and everything. The fact that you can predict things like the Hamas takeover and write well are not signs that you are smart, but that Hashem has given you gifts to humbly use in the world to serve Him. Rosh HaShanah is the time we proclaim Hashem is King--not me. Stop thinking of yourself as \"the king\"--recognize Hashem\'s Providence and you will be able to forgive easily where appropriate. Good luck in your tshuvah process. The key word is process--it takes time and repeated prayer and a willingness to be humble before your G-d. Again, l\'shana tova...");
AddReply(228080,"Get Rid of the Ego and You\'ll Forgive Where Appropriate","Moshe","Jerusalem","08/28/07","Pray for humility, Jack. You are full of yourself, just like everyone who is deeply afraid that they are not good enough. We use our external successes to prove to ourselves that we\'re okay, but deep inside we\'re afraid we\'re not. So we get angry at drivers who cut us off. That anger means that we think Hashem is running the world wrong. How dare He give us inconvenience! That is why anger is like idolatry--we are worshipping ourselves. This is from deep wounds from which only Hashem, in His infinite compassion, can heal us. Pray for Hashem to uproot your false pride. Good luck. L\'shana tova...");
AddReply(228062,"LIMITS of FORGIVENESS","David R. Wills","Ohio, USA","08/28/07","Isaiah 63:4, G-d says, \"For the day of vengeance is in my heart...\".\n\nWhy would there be vengeance in G-d\'s heart, if there were no limits to forgiveness?\n\nWe are not to avenge ourselves; but, neither are we to extend forgiveness indiscriminately--if one reads G-d\'s Word correctly.");
AddReply(228048,"Well said...","John W. Cassell","Albuquerque, NM","08/28/07","Abolutely right, Jack.  Israel\'s genocidal enemies...NEVER.  The larger family?  Jews who hate Jews enable the genocide.  Jews who love Jews, the unrepentant kind you mentioned, need their behavior modified first. JWC");
AddReply(228045,"Jack, You Are Way Too Kind","Adina Kutnicki","US","08/28/07","Jack, you are NOT alone. I admit freely that I am incapable of forgetting, let alone forgiving the head busting \'Jewish\' policeman, nor any of those who took part in DESTROYING Jewish communities, and the hearts and souls of tens of thousands of Jews.\n\nI will go even further. I do NOT consider them part of \'the family\'. They are traitors, pure and simple.\nAfter all, it is inherent in the blood lust of our enemies to try and destroy us. But it is UNFORGIVABLE for our own to do so!");
AddReply(228033,"Some things cannot be forgiven","mike","OIF","08/28/07","In the case of Amona, Gush Katif and the Oslo \"peace process\", to name a few, only Hashem can have the necessary infinite mercy.  As for us limited humans, the best we can do is expeditiously ensure face-to-face meetings between Hashem and all those who ushered in, instigated, cheered on, perpetrated or otherwise were and are involved in these crimes.  The sooner Jewish patriots begin to emulate the noble example of the Maccabees, the better off the Jewish People will be.");
AddReply(228031,"Are we supposed to be in \'denial\' to snubs?","MED","USA","08/28/07","Are we supposed to show the other cheek & get a worse slap on it?  It\'s better to retaliate with two hard blows before taking that one.\n\nOR\n\nShould we resort to the \'ahimsa\' (non-violence) principle & get kicked around like a foot-ball?  Even the \'non-violence\' proponents have a limit to their tolerance.\n\nIn that respect, we sure admire the boundless \'forgiveness\' the Jews show to their innumerable enemies.  They are the first ones to provide aid to their enemies.");

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