(6) Speak to the Israelites: When men or women individually commit any wrong toward a fellow human being, thus breaking faith with ה', and they realize their guilt, (7) they shall confess the wrong that they have done. They shall pay for the damage ...giving it to the one who was wronged.
. וְכֵן הַחוֹבֵל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ וְהַמַּזִּיק מָמוֹנוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשִּׁלֵּם לוֹ מַה שֶּׁהוּא חַיָּב לוֹ אֵינוֹ מִתְכַּפֵּר עַד שֶׁיִּתְוַדֶּה וְיָשׁוּב מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת כָּזֶה לְעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר
Similarly, someone who injures a colleague or damages his property, does not attain atonement [complete forgiveness], even though he pays him what he owes until he confesses and makes a commitment never to do such a thing again as implied by ... Numbers, 5:6.
What, according to the Torah, are the 2 things necessary to correct a wrong between two people?
The Mishneh Torah gives us some more detail about how to correct a wrong. What does it add?
Whose responsibility is it to make the relationship between the parties better?
It is related that when Rabbi Ze'era had a complaint against a person who insulted him, he would pace back and forth before him and present himself, so that the person could come and appease him. Rabbi Ze'era made himself available so that it would be easy for the other person to apologize to him.
What did Rabbi Ze'era do if someone insulted him?
What do you think would be a good ending for our play?
(ו) כְּשֶׁיֶּחְטָא אִישׁ לְאִישׁ לֹא יִשְׂטְמֶנּוּ וְיִשְׁתֹּק ... אֶלָּא מִצְוָה עָלָיו לְהוֹדִיעוֹ וְלוֹמַר לוֹ לָמָּה עָשִׂיתָ לִי כָּךְ וְכָךְ וְלָמָּה חָטָאתָ לִי בְּדָבָר פְּלוֹנִי... וְאִם חָזַר וּבִקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ לִמְחֹל לוֹ צָרִיךְ לִמְחֹל. וְלֹא יְהֵא הַמּוֹחֵל אַכְזָרִי...
(6) When one person wrongs another, the latter should not remain silent and despise him ...
Rather, he is commanded to make the matter known and ask him: "Why did you do this to me?", "Why did you wrong me regarding that matter?" ...
If, afterwards, [the person who committed the wrong] asks [his colleague] to forgive him, he must do so. A person should not be cruel when forgiving ...
Who has the responsibility to correct a wrong?
For you, is it more difficult to forgive or to ask for forgiveness? Why?
How do you feel if you have been forgiven for doing something wrong?
Can you think of someone who has wronged you? How can you help that person ask you for forgiveness?