This article first appeared on MeaningfulMinute.org The month of Elul is a good time to talk about the culture we have created around sinning. To sin means to miss the mark. To do something that violates the boundaries of our relationship with Hashem. We are created to make our world into a more Godly place and aveiros run contrary to that mission. We are human, prone and even designed to make mistakes. Chazal teach us that Teshuva was created before the creation of the world. Sinning and Teshuva were built into the system. I am part of very few Whatsapp groups. One of them is with the people that I went to Yeshiva with in 1998-1999. Outside of some of the inane banter that comes with the territory, there are some very meaningful and growth-oriented conversations that take place in the group. Recently one of the guys asked about the things that we are still struggling with in our Judaism to which another replied (in jest), “You show me your aveiros and I’ll show you mine.” It was unanimously agreed that this was not the forum to reveal our private struggles, and they’re right, though perhaps with an important caveat. The Rambam writes that it is very praiseworthy for a person who repents to confess their sins bein adam l’chaveiro publicly. Those sins that are bein adam laMakom should also be admitted publicly, but in a general sense. What is the value of this public admission? Perhaps we can suggest that by admitting his sins in public, the Baal Teshuva inspires others to do
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