19 Elul 5784

Rabbi Sam Zwarenstein

Emanuel Synagogue

An Extra One-Fifth: Restoring relationships by increments

“Speak to the Israelites: When men or women individually commit any wrong toward a fellow human being, thus breaking faith with Adonai, and they realise their guilt, they shall confess the wrong that they have done. They shall make restitution in the principal amount and add one-fifth to it, giving it to the one who was wronged” (Numbers 5:6-7).
From this text we learn that a transgression against another person is tantamount to disrespecting the way we treat our relationship with God as an extension of our relationship with fellow human beings.

The text goes further to explain the need for confessing the sin, thereby emphasising the importance of acknowledging one’s wrongdoing. Confession, in this context, is not merely a verbal admission but an accountable declaration of guilt. It is an essential first step in the process of repentance, serving both as a personal acknowledgment of responsibility and as a means to address awareness of the transgression.

However, the text does not end there. Instead, it goes on to mention that where restitution is due, it must be settled in full, along with an additional fifth of the value of the wrong done. This principle of adding a fifth is deemed to serve a few purposes.

Firstly, it ensures that the victim is compensated not only for the direct loss but also for the potential consequences or damages associated with the wrongdoing. Secondly, the additional penalty acts as a deterrent against wrongdoing, mainly through emphasising the seriousness of the offence. Lastly, the requirement to compensate the victim supports the wider principle of restorative justice, also espoused elsewhere in the Torah, where the focus is on making amends and restoring relationships, rather than focusing solely on the concept of punishment.

By taking responsibility for our actions and seeking to repair the damage caused, we acknowledge that our wrongdoing affects our moral relationship with one another and therefore, our relationship with God.

Through this we learn that true repentance involves more than just internal regret, whilst acknowledging that is where it needs to start. Teshuvah requires thoughtfulness and practical actions to rectify these wrongs in line with genuine repentance, as we seek to become better versions of ourselves.