To all the Mosserim and evil doers out there…
You can pound your chest till it’s black and blue; you can swing a cow over your head; you can fast until you forget what food ever tasted like; you can even go to Mikva every day and 3 times before Yom Kipper; you might even feel like a big humanitarian by inviting a few [mishichistim] guest over…
IT’S ALL WORTHLESS”
“Repentance and the Day of Atonement atone only for sins which are committed against G-d. Sins which are committed against one’s fellow man are never atoned for until one has paid any necessary fines to the person against whom one sinned, and discussed it with him.”
ב] ומה היא התשובה?–הוא שיעזוב החוטא חטאו, ויסירנו ממחשבתו ויגמור בליבו שלא יעשהו עוד, שנאמר “יעזוב רשע דרכו, ואיש אוון מחשבותיו” (ישעיהו נה,ז). וכן יתנחם על שעבר, שנאמר “כי אחרי שובי, ניחמתי, ואחרי היוודעי, ספקתי על ירך” (ירמיהו לא,יח); ויעיד עליו יודע תעלומות שלא ישוב לזה החטא לעולם, שנאמר “ולא נאמר עוד אלוהינו, למעשה ידינו–אשר בך, ירוחם יתום” (הושע יד,ד). וצריך להתוודות בשפתיו, ולומר עניינות אלו שגמר בליבו.
2) What exactly is repentance? Repentance involves forsaking sins and removing such thoughts from one’s way of thinking and resolving firmly never to do it again, as it is written, “Let the wicked man forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord”. One should also be remorseful over what one has done, as it is written, “For after I had returned away I repented”. One also has to testify to God that one will never return to that sin, as it is written, “…nor shall we say any more to the work of our hands”. All of these three declarations have to be made out loud.
ג] כל המתוודה בדברים, ולא גמר בליבו לעזוב–הרי זה דומה לטובל, ושרץ בידו, שאין הטבילה מועלת, עד שישליך השרץ; וכן הוא אומר “ומודה ועוזב, ירוחם”(משלי כח,יג). וצריך לפרוט את החטא, שנאמר “אנא, חטא העם הזה חטאה גדולה, ויעשו להם, אלוהי זהב”( שמות לב,לא)
3) Anybody who follows this procedure but does not resolve in his heart never to do it again is like someone who ritual immerses himself [in a mikveh] while holding a defiling object in his hand, for in that case the ritual immersion is useless. It has been said, “Whoever confesses and forsakes his sins shall have mercy”. One also has to detail one’s sin, for it is written, “Oh, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold”.
ו] ואלו שאין להן חלק לעולם הבא, אלא נכרתין ואובדין, ונידונין על גודל רשעם וחטאתם, לעולם ולעולמי עולמים: המינים, והאפיקורוסים, והכופרים בתורה, והכופרים בתחיית המתים, והכופרים בביאת הגואל, והמשומדים, ומחטיאי הרבים, והפורשים מדרכי ציבור, והעושה עבירות ביד רמה בפרהסיה כיהויקים, והמוסרים, ומטילי אימה על הציבור שלא לשם שמיים, ושופכי דמים, ובעלי לשון הרע, והמושך עורלתו.
6) The following types of people have no share in the World to Come, and are cut off, destroyed and excommunicated for ever on account of their very great sins and wickedness: An infidel; a heretic; one who denies the Torah; one who denies that there will be a Resurrection; one who denies that there will be a Redemption; one who converts from Judaism; one who causes a lot of people to sin; one who withdraws from communal ways; one who publicly sins in a defiant way like Jehoiakim did; an informer [against Jews]; one who instills fear in the congregation but not in the Name of God; a murderer; one who relates loshan ho’rah; and one who pulls back his foreskin [in order to cover his brit milah].
Because of your viscous Mesira 7 members of Anash (6 of who are Shomrim members) must show up to court, only 3 days before Yom Kipper to deal with your false charges. That is something Yom Kipper will not forgive for you!
There is hope still…
Following the laws of Idol worship, were the Rambam discuses the laws of a Mosier is the laws of Tishuva-Repentance. Even if you have reacted the lowest level you can always return and do the right thing.