Do you forgive Hitler his trangressions against your people?

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mama_pajama_1

I have used this essay that I wrote several months ago in response to a question about terrorists to answer this question in other forms. I think it is once again, appropriate. This answer is for the concept of forgiving ANYONE for transgressions committed against ANOTHER human or group of humans from a Jewish perspective.
Here, now is my essay:

The late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said about the Holocaust, “No one can forgive crimes committed against someone else.”

My answer when asked, “Do you forgive the terrorists?” is no. I am not required to do so. Forgiveness may come from the victims and families, but it is not for me to say if they should or should not. It is not my place to forgive the terrorists.

Those who carried out the attacks of 9/11 are not around to ask their victims to forgive them. Those who supported them and others involved have not sought forgiveness. Their victims are not alive for them to ask for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is reserved for those who are sincerely repentant.

We have no evidence to indicate the terrorists have changed their minds about their deeds. We have no words of apology or efforts of amends to seek repentance. They still declare their willingness to continue in their path of terrorism. Judaism does not obligate us to turn the other cheek against those who wish to harm us or kill us. In fact, as Jews and as Americans, it is an obligation for us to protect and defend our families, our nation and ourselves.

Forgiveness involves the person who has done something wrong owning up to the wrong deed, expressing regret, vowing never to do it again, seeking to make amends and offering restitution. If terrorists were to do this, under Jewish law, the victims would then be obligated under the steps of Teshuvah to see if they could find it in their hearts to forgive. When Elie Wiesel was once asked, "Do you forgive the Holocaust?”, he answered, “ Who am I to forgive?”

The only one who has the power to forgive are the victims themselves or God. Before we expect God to forgive us, we must do our part.

The easiest way that I can illustrate this concept to a Christian is to think about what many Jews call the most Jewish part of the New Testament, the “Lord’s Prayer”. In it, the prayer calls to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. This is a very Jewish concept. Before we ask God to forgive us, we are obligated to seek it from any we have offended after we have done our best to make good any wrong we committed. If we are sincere, they are obligated to do their very best to grant this. However, since those who died are not here to pardon them should they seek a path of repentance, this would be the obligation of the family members of those killed and of those injured in attack.

In the case of the 9/11 hijackers or any other suicide terrorists, since they perished in their act they can no longer seek repentance. Maimonides, the great Jewish 12th-century theologian and physician, taught that "the unwarranted taking of life for no reason whatsoever other than to make a point" forfeits one's opportunity for forgiveness. Some sins are considered unpardonable. This is one.

No, I do not forgive the 9/11 hijackers. I do not forgive those who committed the genocide of the Holocaust or who are enacting genocide today in Darfur. I am not obligated to do so. There is commadment in the book of Leviticus that requires Jews not to hold a grudge. That is an obligation for us not to harbor hatreds.

What I am obligated to do and I shall try to do to the best of my ability is to focus on my own shortcomings, to make amends wherever possible and to seek forgiveness for myself and then ask it from God. I am obligated to forgive those who come to me who are sincere in seeking pardon and who make amends for any offence done to me. This is what I do at Yom Kippur. I work on getting my own affairs in order and focus on the people whose lives directly touch my own. I do my best, and leave the rest to God.

Shalom,

copyright© 2007 mama_pajama_1

Edit to note: In the context of the Torah and concept of Teshuvah..when Jesus declares that we cannot expect God to forgive us if we do not forgive those who do wrong to us, this is speaking against witholding forgiveness from one who has been repentant..if one comes to me with sincere effort to repent and make amends, I must make the sincere effort to forgive if I expect God to do as promised and forgive me. THAT's the concept.. it is not to say forgive people as they're trying to kill you or who would just as soon do the same transgression over and over to you. Self preservation is not a sin.

Anita P

... Go and ask the holocaust survivors if they are willing to forgive him... go and ask over 6 million tortured and murdered people who were forced to die without any dignity, children, women, men, old and young people - just for being Jewish or for having a Jewish ancestors... Go and ask them!!
You will say that’s ridiculous, as dead people can’t talk... but yes, I tell you that they cam... go and visit the museum of holocaust in Tel Aviv and look at their pictures - one by one - and go and ask this question.
I guess, that you already know the answer.
I am against this stupidity to condemn all Germans or the German nation in general, but yes, there are people who have to be condemned forever and ever because human life and dignity didn’t mean a thing for them and cruelty, pain, hate and downfall was all they brought to mankind, not only to the Jews, but also to their own nation and all Europe, Russia, etc...
People who murder humanity are not worth to be forgiven.
It’s not only Adolph Hitler, is all of these who planned the holocaust and the murders of innocent victims (no matter if they have been murdered for being Jews, gypsy, communists, Russians, Polish, homosexuals or for whatever!!!) have to be condemned and I strongly believe that they will pay for what they have done and feel every single scream, every single tear and every pain they caused to others for all eternity...

Michael J

Forgiveness is not in order. He never questioned his actions, and even at the end he never apologized. It is a moot point now.

paperback writer

Of course not.

Some things are unforgivable.

What you call transgressions involved cold blooded murder and the worst type of torture. Things not even imaginable they were so horrific.

paperback_writer

It is not for us to forgive; only the victims of any wrong can ever forgive and sadly, the six million Jews are of course no longer alive. We cannot forgive on their behalf.

Nor can we forgive Hitler on behalf of other groups that were sought out and tortured/mutilated/killed.

I find your question strange, in fact. What did you really expect the answer to be?

Jasmine

No I dont. As a muslim, I believe that what he did to the jews was sick!!! He was sick! How can he kill million of people because of there religion???

Why so serious?

Yes. A hundred times yes, with all my heart. If you don't forgive, nothing can change, and it only hurts you. Forgiveness is a powerful tool for good that people hardly ever use, mostly out of pride or anger. When in doubt, I always at least try to forgive. If someone had looked at him and forgave him, would it have shaken him to his core, if just for a moment? I'm not mad at him. He was wrong for sure, but I just feel bad for the guy. He was obviously mentally ill. I think a person has the right to forgive someone for things done to others. Look at Jesus. We are all fellow humans. For myself, for my sadness over what was done to those people, I forgive him. In his shoes, with his upbringing, with his beliefs, would we have done the same with that power? I think not, but I can't be completely sure. You can't judge. Unless you are God, you can't grant him atonement, but you can choose to pass on the energy of love and compassion, rather than self-righteousness and a grudge. Instead of sacrifice, Jews are supposed to serve God with love now, like it says in Isaiah. If you have become a Christian despite your ancestors, then I will just say that Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who to love and which sins are "unforgivable". There are sins that cause great pain and regret for many nations, like this one, but the power of love is bigger than this. At least I like to believe it is. To not forgive him is to let his actions cheapen who you are. Your integrity, your heart, and your strength. Don't forgive only when it's easy, or convenient. A grudge just gives more power to the side Hitler was serving. Think: What good does it do to still have hatred for Adolph Hitler? I'm just as mad at the German people at that time. Someone should have put their foot down, like Rommel. They should not have allowed Hitler's grudges and hate to fill their hearts because of popular opinion. Unforgiveness was Hitler's tool, his drive. Now he is dead. He doesn't need your forgiveness. We are the ones who need it. We are the ones who should not pass the torch of judgment to the next generation.

Rеdisca

I recently saw a 5-part documentary on World War II on PBS. An American Jewish World War II veteran, who participated in liberating one of the death camps and saw a "hospital" where Jewish and Gypsy inmates were being experimented on, remarked as follows:

"No apology can atone for what I saw."

Duke of Tudor

To err is human, but to forgive is Divine.

MikeInRI

Do I forgive Hitler - no - all others who have done ill to the Jewish people - depends on the person and if they asked for forgiven and did deeds to show they were sincere. Otherwise, as a Jew - it is not my place to forgive nor to I care too.

Good Luck!!!

enfuzz

no!!!! he killed many of my ancestors.

shanti_g

you shell not say his name in the section!!!!!

we will never forget,
the german people and allot of the collaborator's who turn a blind eye towards the genocide.

it's not only H' action's , it's all the german nation and more aka': axis.

especially
gemany and france we will never forget... you hypocrates!!!!!

Malka D. 2

NO I don't forgive him

cat's meow

No, of course not.

Mr. X

he's dead, why does he need our forgiveness?

Jdriven

Does Austria forgive him? How about the Polish or the Chesks? Russia certainly hasn't and I don't forgive him for what he did to my country either.
He did nothing to me personally so I have nothing to forgive. I will leave forgiveness up to God. I am not in that business , but He is.

moneymaker

I would forgive him, but I feel as I have no such right.

mark

As a Palestinian I will never forgive this criminal.
Edit: should I forgive him and why should I?
A Palestinian refugee Chai