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If God's anger at sin is justified, why does it fade without repentance? The shiur explains that divine anger maintains a just claim for wrongdoing but doesn't prevent ongoing care and relationship. Unlike humans who withhold kindness until debts are paid, God's love remains unconditional and teaches us to separate consequences from relationship.
This shiur delves deeply into the fifth of the thirteen divine attributes found in Michah: 'lo hechsik lo'ad apo' - Hashem (ה׳) does not retain His anger forever. Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing a fundamental question: if God's anger is initially justified due to our sins, why should it abate over time without repentance? The answer lies in understanding the dual nature of divine response to wrongdoing. Using a powerful Midrash about Yosef's revelation to his brothers and Bilaam's talking donkey, the shiur explains that when someone hurts us, two elements are involved: they've done something objectively wrong, and they owe us personal restitution. This creates a legitimate debt that justifies initial anger. However, the problem with human anger is that we withhold all future kindness until this debt is paid, essentially saying 'until you apologize, I want nothing to do with you.'
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Thirteen Attributes of Mercy - lo hechsik lo'ad apo
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