d EWY zeMld a .

dCzie ,'d itl e`hgn `hegd aEWW `ide ,zg` dU zvn e p I r e

[This text describes] one mitzvah; that a sinner should repent from his sin before God and confess.

.EN` miwxtA ,D bA DOr mixxb d mixwire ef dvn xE` E ll P e a

This mitzvah and the fundamental principles [of faith] that follow in relation to itl are explained in the coming chapters.

` wxR d EWY zeMld a `,` --dUz `l oi dU oi ,dxeYAW zeevOd l r A r A M

any of the mitzvot of the Torah, whether a positive command or a negative command -

--dbWA oi oecA oi ,odn zg` lr mc` xa m` b A f A r

If a person transgresses whether willingly or inadvertently -

:`Ed KEx l`d itl zeCzdl ag ,e`hgn aEWe d EWY dUIWM A p e I i a r

when he repents, and returns from his sin, he must confess before God, blessed be,

. . . mc`d z`Hg-l n EUi iM dX`-e` Wi`" xn PW M r `

as [Numbers 5:6-7] states: "If a man or a woman commit any of the sins of man...

,(f-e,d xacna) "EU xW mz`Hg-z` ,ECzde r ` e

they must confess the sin that they committed."

.mix C iECe d a f
This refers to a verbal confession.

.dU zvn d iECeE r e f

This confession is a positive command.

a,` --dCzn cvi e M

How does one confess:

,K e K iziU e ,Litl iYrW izie iz`hg 'd `` xne` M M r p R r P

He states: "I implore You, God, I sinned, I transgressed, I committed iniquity before You by doing the following.

.d x cl xeg i i` m erlE ,iUnA iYWaE iYng ix e f a f p l r p d

Behold, I regret and am embarrassed for my deeds. I promise never to repeat this act again."

;iECE W exwir `Ed d N f

These are the essential elements of the confessional prayer.

.g Wn d ix ,d oprA Kix dlE zeCzdl dAxOd l e A f d f i ` e k

Whoever confesses profusely and elaborates on these matters is worthy of praise.

b,` --zenW e ze`Hg i A o e ` lr k

Those who bring sin offerings or guilt offerings must also [confess their sins]

,oecf lr e` ozbW lr mdizepAxw oi`iaOW z A p b r

when they bring their sacrifices for their inadvertent or willful transgressions.

:mix C iECe ECzie ,d EWY EUIW cr ,mAxwA od xRMzn oi` a e a r p l

Their sacrifices will not atone for their sins until they repent and make a verbal confession

.(d,d `xwie) "di r ,`hg xW --dCzde" xn PW l ` e `

as [Leviticus 5:5] states: "He shall confess the sin he has committed upon it."

c,` --zEwln i IgnE ,oiC zi zezin i Ign l o e a A a M k

Similarly, those obligated to be executed or lashed by the court

.ECzie d EWY EUIW cr ,mzwlA e` mzzinA md xRMzn oi` e a r I l

do not attain atonement through their death or lashing unless they repent and confess.

--epenn wiG Od e` ex gA l egd o e a a k

Similarly, someone who injures a colleague or damages his property,

--el ag `EdW dn el m XW iR lr s` I N
even though he pays him what he owes

:m erl dM zeU n aEWe dCzIW cr ,el xRMzn oi` l f rN i e

does not attain atonement, until he confesses and makes a commitment never to do such a thing again

.(e,d xacna) "mc`d z`Hg-l n" xn PW M `

as implied by the phrase [Numbers, loc. cit..], "any of the sins of man."

[a] d,` ,l`xUi l l dx M `EdW itl--g YWOd xirU k R N

Since the goat sent [to Azazel] atones for all of Israel,

:l`xUi l oeWl lr ei r dCzn lec odeM M l e B

the High Priest confesses upon it as a spokesman for all of Israel

.(`k,fh `xwie) "l`xUi iA zp?e-l -z` ei r dCzde" xn PW p r M l e `

as [Leviticus 16:21] states: "He shall confess upon it all the sins of the children of Israel."

e,` ,zexEn de zeNTd ,dxeYAW zex l lr xRkn g YWOd xirU g ar M N

The goat sent to Azazel atones for all the transgressions in the Torah, the severe and the lighter [sins];

,dbWA xa W oi oecA xa W oi b r A f r A
those violated intentionally and those transgressed inadvertently;

:g YWOd xirUA xRMzn lMd--el rced `NW oi el rcedW oi N A A

those which [the transgressor] became conscious of and those which he was not conscious of. All are atoned for by the goat sent [to Azazel].

;d EWY dU W ,`Ede a r
This applies only if one repents.

.zeNTd lr ` ` el xRkn xirVd oi` ,d EWY dU `l m` l ` l a r a

If one does not repent, the goat only atones for the light [sins].

f,` :zexEn d od dnE ,zeNTd od dnE g

Which are light sins and which are severe ones?

;zx e` oiC zi zzin odi oiagW zex d od zexEn d M A lr I ar g

The severe sins are those for which one is liable for execution by the court or karet.

.zexEn d on `id ix ,zx D oi`W iR lr s`--xwWe `eW zrEaWE g d M A

False and unnecessary oaths are also considered severe sins even though they are not [punished by] karet.

,dUz `l zeevn x`WE r

[The violation of] the other prohibitions

.zeNTd od--zx od oi`W dU zeevnE M A r

and [the failure to perform] positive commandments that are not punishable by karet are considered light [sins].

[b] g,` .d EWY ` ` mW oi`--dx M gAf n Ep oi`e ,mw WCwOd zi oi`W onf A a l R l I A
At present, when the Temple does not exist and there is no altar of atonement, there remains nothing else aside from Teshuvah.

:zex d l lr zxRkn d EWYd ar M a

Teshuvah atones for all sins.

,erWx mW el oixiMf n oi`--dex ` d EWY dU e ,ein l rWx ENt` p g A a r i M

Even a person who was wicked his whole life and repented in his final moments will not be reminded of any aspect of his wickedness

.(ai,bl l`wfgi) "erWxn eaEW meiA ,D lW i-`l rWxd zrWxe" xn PW A M `

as [Ezekiel 33:12] states "the wickedness of the evil one will not cause him to stumble on the day he repents his wickedness."

.(l,fh `xwie) "m i xRki dd meIa-iM" xn PW ,miaX xRkn mixERMd meiNW envre k lr G ` l
The essence of Yom Kippur atones for those who repent as [Leviticus 16:30] states: "This day will atone for you."

[c] h,` --xRkn mixERMd meiNW envre ,lMd lr zxRkn d EWYdW iR lr s` a

Even though Teshuvah atones for all [sins] and the essence of Yom Kippur brings atonement,

,oz WA oixRMzn odW zex W r ar i

[there are different levels of sin and hence, differences in the degree of atonement.] There are sins that can be atoned for immediately

.onf xg`l ` ` oixRMzn oi`W zex We l ar i

and other sins which can only be atoned for over the course of time.

:cvi M
What is implied?

--d EWY dU e ,zx D oi`W dU zvn lr mc` xa a r M A r e r

If a person violates a positive command which is not punishable by karet and repents,

,cn el oilgeOW cr mXn f Epi` I f

he will not leave that place before he is forgiven.

.(ak,b edinxi) "m izaEWn d x` ,mia eW mi A EaEW" xn p EN`aE k R a p `

Concerning these sins, [Jeremiah 3:22] states: "Return, faithless children! I will heal your rebellious acts."

i,` --d EWY dU e ,oiC zi zzin `le zx D oi`W dUz `l zvn lr xa a r A M A r e r

If a person violates a prohibition that is not punishable by karet or execution by the court and repents,

,xRkn mixERMd meie d eY d EWY l a

Teshuvah has a tentative effect and Yom Kippur brings atonement

.(l,fh `xwie) "m i xRki dd meIa-iM" xn p EN`aE k lr G `

as [Leviticus, loc. cit. states "This day will atone for you."

`i,` --d EWY dU e ,oiC zi zezinE zezxM lr xa a r A r

If a person violates [sins punishable by] karet or execution by the court and repents,

,dx Md el oixneB ei r oi` d oixEQie ,oileY mixERMd meie d EWY R l A a

Teshuvah and Yom Kippur have a tentative effect and the sufferings which come upon him complete the atonement.

;oixEQi ei r E`eaW cr ,dxEnB dx M el xRMzn oi` m erlE l I R l

He will never achieve complete atonement until he endures suffering

.(bl,ht milidz) "m?e mirpaE ;m WR haWa iYcw E" xn p EN`aE p r b r t `

for concerning these [sins, Psalms 89:33] states: "I will punish their transgression with a rod."

ai,` .xa W z A mXd z` l g `NWA ,mixEn mix C dOA r r N ` a

When does the above apply: When the desecration of God's name is not involved in the transgression.

--mXd z` l gOd l ` N a
However, a person who desecrated God's name,

,oixEQi ei r E` E ez EWzA cner `Ede mixERMd mei riBde d EWY dU W iR lr s` l a a a r

even though he repented, Yom Kippur arrived while he continued his repentance, and he experienced suffering,

,zEnW cr dxEnB dx M el xRMzn Epi` I R

will not be granted complete atonement until he dies.

,zxRkn dzinE oileY oYW W oixEQie mixERMd meie d EWY ` ` l a l

The three: repentance, Yom Kippur, and suffering have a tentative effect and death atones

.(ci,ak ediryi) "oEznY-cr ,m dd o?e d xRi-m` :ze` v 'd ,if `a d b e" xn PW kl G r k a p l p `

as [Isaiah 22:14] states: "It was revealed in my ears [by] the Lord of Hosts, surely this iniquity will not be atoned for until you die."