Response to One Who Causes Others to Sin

The root of the question comes from what our Sages taught in Pirkei Avot (Chapter 5): "Whoever causes the public to sin will not be given the opportunity to repent." This seemingly indicates that one who causes others to sin has no possibility to return through repentance, and will die in his sin, with punishment awaiting in the World to Come for his actions.

However, this is not actually the case. Nothing stands in the way of repentance. Rather, the intention of our Sages in Pirkei Avot is that one who causes others to sin will not receive divine assistance (heavenly help) to return in repentance. As it says in Proverbs: "A man oppressed by bloodguilt will flee to the pit; let no one support him" - meaning heaven will not support him in returning through repentance. The reason for this is so that he should not be in the Garden of Eden while those who sinned because of him are in Gehinnom. But if he makes the effort and repents, his repentance is accepted. As Maimonides wrote, all those we learned have no portion in the World to Come, including those who cause others to sin, if they repent from their wickedness before death and become masters of repentance, they are among those who have a share in the World to Come, for nothing stands in the way of repentance. This is also stated in the Jerusalem Talmud (Peah, first chapter). The Rabbi added a hint from the verse: "If your sins are like scarlet (red as scarlet which is red), they shall be white as snow" (meaning if you return in repentance, your sins will become white like snow). The intention here is that if the sins are "your sins" alone, belonging to the sinners themselves, then they shall be white as snow. But the continuation of the verse states, "if they are red as crimson, they shall become like wool," and it doesn't say "if your sins are like crimson," but rather "if they are red," using causative language - meaning if one caused others to sin, making others' sins red, then they shall be like wool, not like snow, as snow is whiter than wool. Nevertheless, his repentance is ultimately accepted.

It is important to note that this sin of causing others to stumble includes women who walk immodestly against the boundaries of Jewish law, as through this sin they cause countless others to sin. Likewise, those who sell secular newspapers in their stores and display them prominently are also causing others to sin, and their transgression is immeasurably great. Similarly, those who disrespect scholars and preach against the Sages of Israel and against our holy Torah, spreading false ideas - they too are considered as causing others to sin. Instead of using their power of speech to strengthen the weak-hearted to return to repentance and draw closer to the service of Hashem, they use the powers Hashem gave them to cause others to sin against Him. All these are included among those who cause others to sin, whose punishment is great and whose repentance is difficult, though as stated, if they repent with all their might, their repentance is accepted before Hashem.

The proper approach is to perform 'reciprocal repentance' - to bring merit to many through mitzvot to atone for their sins, and then their repentance will be more readily accepted.

Reciprocal repentance means that if a woman caused others to sin through immodesty, from now on she should take upon herself to be more careful with modesty, and to guide her friends and daughters to walk modestly as well, thereby increasing holiness and purity in the world. Similarly, one who sold secular newspapers should commit to increasing Torah and purity among Israel. And those who corrupted others with harmful ideas should strengthen others with correct ideas according to Hashem's ways. Through this, their sin will be atoned and their repentance will be accepted before Hashem.

Rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef courtesy of "Daily Halacha" website

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