Rabbi Howard Morrison

When I moved to Toronto in July of 2000, I was asked at the Canadian border to produce my SIN. I had no idea what was being asked of me? I explained to the border agent that I was coming to be the Rabbi, a clergy person, of a synagogue. That part of my responsibility was to help rid people of sin. Little did I know that the equivalent of my U.S. social security number was here called SIN, Social Insurance Number. 

Judaism differs from other religions when it comes to sin. The primary word in Hebrew is Chet, which means, missing the mark. For most offenses, there is no statute of limitations for correcting and refining ourselves after we have missed the mark, be it in our relationship with God or humanity.

In the new book of Vayikra, we read categories of offerings for different purposes. One is the Korban Chatat, the sin offereing. With other sacrifices, the Torah prefaces with the word "If . . . " When it comes to Chet, or sin, the Torah prefaces, "Asher . . . -When." We are all destined to make mistakes and miss the mark. Even regarding a chieftain, a leader, the Torah says, "Asher Nasi Yecheta - When a leader misses the mark."

It is no accident that the categories of the ancient sacrifices now have verbal and liturgical associations. Each weekday in the Amidah, we recite, "Slach Lanu Avinu Ki Chatanu - Forgive us our Father for we have sinned (missed the mark)."

On Yom Kippur, several times, we recite a long double acrostic list of offenses beginning with the words, "Al Chet Shechatanu Lefanecha - For the sin we have committed before you."

It is not that we will never commit a Chet. More important is how we respond after we have done so.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison