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Why read about Yishmael on Rosh Hashanah, and what did Bruria mean when she told Rabbi Meir to pray for sins to end rather than sinners to die? The shiur distinguishes between people who do evil due to circumstances versus those who are inherently evil. Yishmael's unnamed status during his misdeeds shows his actions didn't reflect his essence, teaching that most of our sins stem from external pressures rather than defining our core identity.
Rabbi Zweig begins by examining why we read the story of Yishmael on Rosh Hashanah, questioning its relevance to the Day of Judgment. He then analyzes a Talmudic story about Rabbi Meir praying for troublesome neighbors to die, and his wife Bruria's correction that he should pray for sins to end, not sinners. The shiur addresses three key questions: Why did Rabbi Meir initially want to pray for people's death? What did Bruria mean about the distinction between 'chatoyim' (sins) versus sinners? And how can one pray for others to repent when free will is fundamental? Rabbi Zweig resolves these questions by distinguishing between people who are inherently evil versus those who commit evil acts due to circumstances, pressures, or immaturity. Using the contrast between Yishmael and the Ben Sorer Umoreh (rebellious son), he explains that Yishmael's actions stemmed from his difficult circumstances as a concubine's son facing jealousy and displacement, not from inherent evil. The Torah (תורה) never mentions Yishmael's name during his misdeeds, only calling him 'naar' (lad) or 'yeled' (boy), indicating these were not expressions of his essence. The Ben Sorer Umoreh, conversely, represents someone raised in optimal conditions who still chooses evil, suggesting inherent corruption. Rabbi Meir's prayer was actually merciful - he wanted to save the troublemakers from becoming worse. Bruria corrected him by pointing out that these people were doing sins but weren't inherently sinners, so they could potentially repent. The prayer for repentance means asking God to help people recognize their true selves - that their negative actions don't define their essence. Rabbi Zweig emphasizes that people often convince themselves they are inherently bad to avoid responsibility for change. This psychological defense mechanism provides false liberation from moral obligations. The Rosh Hashanah message is that almost all our misdeeds stem from external pressures rather than our true essence, which remains untainted and capable of growth. He concludes by addressing confession (vidui), explaining it's not self-flagellation but rather an accounting and acceptance of responsibility. The goal is recognizing our accountability while maintaining that our essence remains good and changeable.
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