Sefas Tamim: The Punishment for Theft
This week, we continue with the translation of the Chofetz Chaim’s work entitled, “Sefas Tamim.” Sefas Tamim, the namesake of our foundation, emphasizes the great importance of integrity in both speech and deeds.
“In the preceding chapters, we briefly explained the punishment for theft and extortion / cheating in this world. Now we will explain a portion of the great punishment awaiting this person in Olam Haba, if he fails to remedy this sin during his lifetime, meaning to return the money he stole, or appease the “victim” until such time that the “victim” forgives him.
It is commonly known that, because of the sin of theft, and similarly, for all interpersonal sins, the day of Yom Kippur is not an atonement until one has appeased his fellow Jew... Even after all of their punishments, they still will not have a complete atonement until they are returned to this life, reincarnated to give back the value that they stole. I saw written in our books, an incredible story that happened during the period of the Rishonim, that a person came back, reincarnated as a horse and worked with all his strength to repay what he had stolen. This is one of the harshest forms of reincarnation.
At the very least, he will have to come back, reincarnate, to this world to repay what he stole, as this is brought down in many references. The Gra explained the same idea in commentary on the verse in Mishlei (14:25) ‘A true witness saves lives.’”
