Advanced Search

Forgiveness


Question:

Dear Rabbi, recently my 25 year old granddaughter stole my jewelry. Should I forgive her? She has not exactly admitted it to me, but sent me an e-mail stating "someday I hope you will accept my apology." My heart is broken. Please advise. Thank you



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

My advice would be to forgive her. She showed regret by sending you that email. She didn't have to. She sounds like she really wants you to forgive her and not be upset with her and that she feels sorry for what she did. Why live in discord if you can live with her in harmony and make her feel repentant and that she has turned over a new leaf for the good?

Maimonides teaches in Laws of Repentance 2:10 that it is forbidden to be cruel and difficult to appease, rather, a person must be quick to forgive and difficult to anger and when the sinner asks for forgiveness he should forgive him willingly and wholeheartedly."

The only question remaining is what to do about the stolen jewelry? Did she say she would return it or pay for its value? If so, you can certainly accept your property back and feel that what was not right has been fixed and made whole. But even if she has not offered to return the jewelry, it's your decision to forgo your rights to the property and forgive the monetary claim. It's your choice, and I don't know the circumstances of why she would not return your property if she is truly regretful, but perhaps she needed the money and sold the items. Perhaps speak to her in a gentle way and even give her a minor reprimand if you feel it will do you both good.

If, after speaking together you feel she is sincere and wants a positive and loving relationship with you, I suggest you seriously consider letting the past be the past and to look forward to a happy and successful future together. One of Judaism's greatest goals to seek is to pursue peace, harmony and unity. May God help guide you to say the correct words to her at the correct time and make you life as perfect and content as can be! 


Similar Questions
Relationships > Interpersonal
Violence
Definition of Love
Hosting Relatives
The Candy Truth
Interrupting
Naming Baby
Honor Thy Children?
"Lying"
Communal Property
Shalom Aleichem
English Name / Hebrew Name
The “Old Man”
Friendship
Long Distance Relationship
Long Time No See!
Pursuit of Peace
Feeling Hurt
Be My Guest
I-Sight
Ego-Tripping
To Forgive is Divine
Our Code of Honor
A Favorable Judgment
Judge Me Not
Friends
Responding to Insults
All in the Family
Tell Me Something New
The Ten Tenets
The Jewish Vote
Winning by a Nose
And Let Us Say “Amen”
Challenge with Observance
Words from the Heart
Staying by Relatives
Speech Therapy
Will They Look Down on Me?
Mercy and “Richer Fruits”
Honor
“Morality and Haughtiness”
Helping a Friend
Upgraded Me
“The Eleventh Commandment”
"To Tell the Truth"
A Family Dilemma
Best Friends Forever
The Whole Picture
Criticism
A Diary Dillema
Happy 120th Birthday!
“Office Politics”
Words and Hurt
Returning Theft “After Death”
Physcial Abuse
Keeping a Kosher Family
Philosophy > Ethics
Changing a Character Trait
Revenge
Dog Euthanasia
Judging Others
Chutzpah or Love?
Kosher Speech
The Candy Truth
Funeral Etiquette
"Lying"
The Need for Torah
Persuasion and Business Ethics
German Coins
"Fixing the World"
Business Ethics and Job Security
Splurging
Long Time No See!
Charity Boxes
Does the End Justify the Means?
Nisyonot ("Tests") in Life
Bringing God into the Workplace
Abortion & Pro Life
Harry Potter
Courage
Does the End Justify the Means?
Stoppping a Food Thief
Why Not Watch TV?
Am I a Bad Jew?
Trusting in God & Medical Treatment
Global Warming
Saving Lives
Obligation to Vote
An Honest Broker
The Silent (Mis)treatment
What is "Humility"?
Wisdom
Directing a TV Advertisement
The Torah Work Ethic
Persuasion
Award for Excellence
The $98,000 Question
You Don’t Be the Judge
An Honorable Mention
The Merchant of Vegas
I-Sight
Color-Blind
A Light Unto the Nations
Collection Agency
"Too Nosey"
Quality of Life
A Moral Dilemma
Unstamped Postage Stamp
The Golden Ticket
Tell Me Something New
Healthy Hypocrisy
The Ten Tenets
Euthanasia for Animals
Lighting the Way
Rental Ethics
Winning by a Nose
What to Tell the Patient
Can I Really Make a Difference?
Benefit of the Doubt
Living It Up
Perpetuating a Loved One
Racism
A Cure for the Incurable
Guilt Feelings for the Guilty?
Friends
“Morality and Haughtiness”
Business Ethics
Employment Ethics
What Would America Do?
The Baltimore Riots
“The Eleventh Commandment”
Honesty is the Best Policy
Hypocrisy?
Jaywalking
Just Bending the Truth?
A Family Dilemma
Honor
“White Lie”
Criticism
A Time to Return
Embarrassing in Public
Lying
A Carpet Caper
Educational Ethics - Making Grade
Using Ma’aser Money
“Eyes Only”
Freedom of Speech
Have a question?
 
Gateways - Your Key to Jewish Continuity

AskTheRabbi.org is a service of the Gateways Organization © 2024
Technical problems? Please contact the AskTheRabbi Support team