תוספת ברכה
TOSEFES BERACHA
אבינו מלכנו קרע גזר דיננו
The previous petitions included forgiving and wipe away all one’s sins. This petition seems extra and superfluous. What does this petition add? Once the sin is gone, what decree is left?
It is possible to explain with a commonplace example. A person borrows $100 from a friend with full intention to pay back the loan. However, due to unforeseen economic difficulties, the borrower is unable to pay back the entire amount. The lender understands the problem and is willing to accept payment of half of the debt and forgive the balance of the debt. However, the borrower requests that the loan document be torn up at this time. Even though the borrower understands the gracious intention of the lender to forgive the balance of the debt, nevertheless he could never be fully comforted as long as the loan document exists since at some future time his economic position may improve and he would then be liable to pay. Only the destruction of the loan document provides total piece of mind.
So too, is the intention of this supplication. Even though we fully believe G-d has forgiven us, nevertheless we request the total destruction of the decree so we can fully believe our debt of the past sins would not be called in to account. The lack of the destruction of the decree and calling one to account for past deeds is alluded to in the verse וביום פקדי ופקדתי עליהם חטאתם (שמות לב, לד)
Thus, we can explain the power of complete Teshuvah that results in a destruction of the decree, which is the last stage of forgiveness.
