Obtaining Forgiveness for Sins Punishable by Kares

My chavrusa and I recently had a great discussion about this topic after I came across it in the sefer Yesod Veshoresh Ha’avodah. It’s also explored in depth in the sefer Shaarei Teshuva. I thought it would be a good idea to discuss this topic on this website. I’ll post a paragraph at a time whenever I can. Instead of translating the long texts word for word, I’ll provide easy-to-follow summaries. The original texts are available on Sefaria for anyone to look up.

Shaarei Teshuvah 4:11

In Shaarei Teshuvah 4:11, Rabbeinu Yonah explains that when someone commits a sin punishable by kares or execution by beis din and does Teshuva, the sin is not fully forgiven without Yissurim (suffering). However, certain mitzvos can help protect a person from this suffering, including:

  • Giving Tzedakah (charity) to the poor
  • Performing chessed (acts of kindness), such as:
    • Visiting the sick
    • Burying the dead
    • Comforting mourners
    • Bringing joy to a bride and groom
  • Learning Torah for the sake of Heaven, which is the most effective in protecting from suffering.

Rabbeinu Yonah emphasizes that one should increase their Torah study. For example, if someone was accustomed to studying one chapter of Torah a day, they should now study two. Torah study protects from suffering in two ways:

  1. Torah study is equal to all mitzvos—if other mitzvos protect from Yissurim, then Torah certainly does as well.
  2. The effort and toil in Torah study, including the loss of sleep, serves as a substitute for physical suffering.

Shaarei Teshuvah 4:12

In Sha’arei Teshuvah 4:11, Rabbeinu Yonah explains that for sins punishable by kares or execution by beis din, full forgiveness cannot be achieved without yissurim (suffering), even after teshuvah.

In Sha’arei Teshuvah 4:12, Rabbeinu Yonah provides additional ways to lessen or substitute this required suffering:

  • Voluntary fasts
  • Crying
  • Abstaining from physical pleasures
  • Feeling intense grief and emotional pain over one’s sin

These practices can act as substitutes for the physical yissurim that would otherwise be necessary to achieve full atonement.

Rabbeinu Yonah also emphasizes that if a person experiences yissurim (suffering):

  • He should accept the suffering with love.
  • He should acknowledge the justice of Hashem’s judgment.

This response can shield the person from even greater suffering that would otherwise have befallen him.

Shaarei Teshuvah 4:14

In Shaarei Teshuvah 4:14, Rabbeinu Yonah explains that when someone accidentally commits a sin punishable by kares or execution by beis din, he is still required to do Teshuvah.

Teshuvah in this case includes:

  • Confessing.
  • Asking Hashem for forgiveness.
  • Feeling deep sorrow, worry, and fear.

Additionally, the person should:

  • Regularly study the section of the Torah that deals with the Korban Chatas.

This study is considered as if he had brought the actual Korban Chatas.

Artscroll notes that this refers to Vayikra 4:27-35.