How does one do Teshuva for sins committed against man?

 

Q. How does one do Teshuva for sins committed against man?

A. Teshuva is returning to the way Hashem has set out for us in His Torah. When an individual decides that he regrets his wrongdoings of the past and will never return to those ways in the future.

In addition, regarding sins done to another man, one must ask them for forgiveness in order to be forgiven by Hashem.

 

Q. When doing teshuva or asking forgiveness from an individual for having wronged or sinned against him/her, is it necessary to confess our wrongdoing to that person directly?

A. Yes.

If it is difficult for him to go himself or he knows that it would be easier for that person to forgive him if there is a middle man, he may use a middle man.

 

Q. What if confession makes the person uncomfortable?

A. Just ask him for forgiveness for all that you have done to them without specifying the sin.

 

Q. What if you did something harmful to that person (such as speaking Lashon Hara) and he/she is not aware?

A. You still have the obligation to ask for forgiveness. As this information most likely would embarrass him, just ask him for forgiveness for all that you have done to them without specifying the sin.

 

Sources:

שוע”ר תרו, א. משנ”ב שם סק”ב. שו”ת אז נדברו ח”ז, סו. מועדים וזמנים ח”א, נד.

 

 

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