He Will Suppress Our Iniquities - Divine Justice vs Human Nature

Full Summary

This shiur examines one of the thirteen divine attributes - 'Yichbosh Avonoseinu' (He will suppress our iniquities) - exploring the profound difference between divine and human responses to good and evil. Rabbi Zweig begins by citing the Ramak (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero) who explains that mitzvos have infinite quality and reach the divine presence, while sins are limited and restrained by Hashem (ה׳). This creates an apparent paradox: if Hashem can restrain sins, why can't He simply forgive them entirely? The shiur addresses this through the lens of personal responsibility and human psychology. Using the example of Adam HaRishon's response after the sin ('The woman You gave me'), Rabbi Zweig demonstrates how humans instinctively blame others for their failures while claiming credit for their successes. This represents the opposite of the divine attribute. The key insight is that ultimately, we are responsible for our own shortcomings. When someone insults us, they may reveal our faults, but the fault itself is ours - had we perfected ourselves, the insult would have no power. Hashem operates differently: He holds people accountable for their sinful choices but doesn't blame them for any 'harm' to His honor that results. Similarly, for mitzvos, people receive credit not only for their good choices but also for the positive impact on divine glory. The shiur explores why humans struggle with this approach, linking it to our need for self-definition and existence. The more we define ourselves by our accomplishments rather than our inherent worth, the more we need to reject those who help us (to avoid indebtedness) and blame others for our failures. This explains phenomena like kafuy tov (ingratitude) and why kibbud av v'em (honoring parents) can be particularly challenging - the more fundamental someone's contribution to our existence, the harder it becomes to acknowledge it. The shiur concludes that developing security in our own existence, separate from our accomplishments, allows us to properly attribute credit for good deeds while taking responsibility for our shortcomings, emulating the divine attribute of Yichbosh Avonoseinu.