יום ה Date: 2 Elul, 5774 (8/28/14) – MoedKatan#17 {Eliezer}

Progressing FORGIVENESS

[17a bottom] Reish Lakish: The effects of someone in Cheirem (segregation from the Jewish congregation) are not destined to last with someone forever. The hint is that just as חרם (Cheirem) = value of 248 [which are the same amount of limbs/bones in the human body (248) to signify how the consequences completely enter into a person], so too G-d’s Mercy (the letters switched around) רחם is also 248 [for through Teshuva, it is with Hashem’s mercy that He will help transform a person back to full physical, mental, and spiritual health].

E’s Lesson (based on R’ Rosner): We must remember that no matter what has been done by or to a person, just as Reish Lakish himself was a Baal Teshuva, we all have chances to transform ourselves completely into new healthy physical and spiritual beings when we focus properly and come back home with Teshuva to Hashem through His gracious endless mercy.