Atonement of Sins

One who says: I shall sin and repent, sin and repent, they do not afford him the opportunity to repent. [If one says:] I shall sin and Yom Kippur will atone for me, Yom Kippur does not effect atonement. For transgressions between man and God, Yom Kippur effects atonement, but for transgressions between man and his fellow, Yom Kippur does not effect atonement until he has pacified his fellow. This was expounded by R. Eleazar ben Azariah: From all your sins before the Lord you shall be clean (Leviticus 16:30): for transgressions between man and God, Yom Kippur effects atonement, but for transgressions between man and his fellow, Yom Kippur does not effect atonement, until he has pacified his fellow. R. Akiva said: Happy are you, Israel! Who is it before whom you become pure? And who is it that purifies you? Your Father who is in heaven, as it is said: And I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean (Ezekiel 36:25).

Adapted from the translation ofJoshua Kulp.