Selach lanu, Mechal lanu, Kaper lanu
Caveat: Most of these entries are extrapolations from something I learned. In this case, the entry is a chidush on top of an earlier chidush.
In Mesilas Yesharim, the Ramchal describes the various types of yir'ah (awe / fear). (This is the topic of an earlier entry.) The first is (1) yir'as ha'onesh, fear of punishment. This is in distinction to true yir'as shamayim. Yir'as Shamayim comes in two forms: (2) yir'as hacheit, fear of the sin itself and its impact on our relationship with Hashem; and (3) yir'as haromemus, awe of the magnitude of Hashem, compared with our limited selves.
In Vidui, we ask for three things: selichah, mechilah and kaparah. According to Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch these are in descending order -- selichah is full repair of the sin, whereas kaparah is the containment of its punishment. I would like to suggest an explanation of the terms consistent with the Avudraham's position that they are an ascending sequence.
According to his opinion, selichah is being pardoned from any due punishment.
Mechilah is forgiveness. There are no ill feelings remaining from the act.
Kaparah is from the same root as "kapores", the cover of the Aron. It's the containment of the inclination that lead to the sin. This also explains the verse "Ki bayom hazeh yechapeir aleichem litaher eschem mikol chatoseichim, lifnei Hashem tit-haru -- for on this day, it will provide kaparah for you to make you tahor, before Hashem you will become tahor" links kapparah to taharah. Taharah, purity, is freedom from adulterations, negative habits inculcated into the soul. (See my earlier entry on the subject of taharah.) Kaparah, then is their containment. Beyond pardon from punishment and restoration of the relationship, but a healing of the very self.
These three stages parallel the three types of yir'ah described above. Selichah, pardon from punishment, is a resolution of the sinner's yir'as ha'onesh.
The one with yir'as hacheit, someone who values His relationship with the Creator is concerned with the impact of his actions on that relationship. That concern is resolved through mechilah, a restoration of that relationship.
Kaparah is the containment of personal flaw. A step toward closing that gap between my finite self and the romemus, the greatness of the A-lmighty.
In Mesilas Yesharim, the Ramchal describes the various types of yir'ah (awe / fear). (This is the topic of an earlier entry.) The first is (1) yir'as ha'onesh, fear of punishment. This is in distinction to true yir'as shamayim. Yir'as Shamayim comes in two forms: (2) yir'as hacheit, fear of the sin itself and its impact on our relationship with Hashem; and (3) yir'as haromemus, awe of the magnitude of Hashem, compared with our limited selves.
In Vidui, we ask for three things: selichah, mechilah and kaparah. According to Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch these are in descending order -- selichah is full repair of the sin, whereas kaparah is the containment of its punishment. I would like to suggest an explanation of the terms consistent with the Avudraham's position that they are an ascending sequence.
According to his opinion, selichah is being pardoned from any due punishment.
Mechilah is forgiveness. There are no ill feelings remaining from the act.
Kaparah is from the same root as "kapores", the cover of the Aron. It's the containment of the inclination that lead to the sin. This also explains the verse "Ki bayom hazeh yechapeir aleichem litaher eschem mikol chatoseichim, lifnei Hashem tit-haru -- for on this day, it will provide kaparah for you to make you tahor, before Hashem you will become tahor" links kapparah to taharah. Taharah, purity, is freedom from adulterations, negative habits inculcated into the soul. (See my earlier entry on the subject of taharah.) Kaparah, then is their containment. Beyond pardon from punishment and restoration of the relationship, but a healing of the very self.
These three stages parallel the three types of yir'ah described above. Selichah, pardon from punishment, is a resolution of the sinner's yir'as ha'onesh.
The one with yir'as hacheit, someone who values His relationship with the Creator is concerned with the impact of his actions on that relationship. That concern is resolved through mechilah, a restoration of that relationship.
Kaparah is the containment of personal flaw. A step toward closing that gap between my finite self and the romemus, the greatness of the A-lmighty.
posted by micha @ 10/02/2006 09:14:00 PM
