Tikvah
Editors’ Pick

January 10, 2022

In the Bible, God Forgives, but People Do Not

Instead, they kiss and make up.

Today, Jews and Christians alike see seeking forgiveness from one’s fellowman, and granting it, as key parts of a pious life. Thus Rabbi Joshua Berman’s conclusion that nowhere does the Tanakh describe one person forgiving another comes as a shock. Berman, in conversation with Dru Johnson, explains why this might be, and the role of alternative gestures—such as kissing—in biblical reconciliation. (Audio, 32 minutes.)

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