For the source text click/tap here: Rosh Hashanah 17
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Most of our daf deals with issues of teshuva (repentance) and kappara (forgiveness). We find Rabbi Yochanan introducing the 13 attributes of mercy presented by God to Moshe on Mount Sinai following the sin of the Golden Calf (Ex 34:6) as a formula taught by God that guarantees forgiveness.
A braisa is cited regarding the judgments of two different types of sinful people. Those that sin with their body will go down to Gehinom and will be punished there for twelve months. After twelve months, their body is destroyed, their souls get burned and a wind scatters their remains under the feet of the righteous.
One who has more transgressions than mitzvos and has committed a sin that is in the category of the rebellious sins will not have any cure. One who has precisely the same amount of transgressions as mitzvos, and included in his transgressions is a sin that is in the category of the rebellious sins, must be judged in Gehinom for a short time.
We explore sin and forgiveness from theological, psychological and hassidic perspectives.