I DON’T ACCEPT CARTER’S “APOLOGY”

I DON’T ACCEPT CARTER’S “APOLOGY” Judaism teaches the importance of teshuva (repentance). But an apology does not count as repentance unless it is sincere and heartfelt. Teshuva is about renewing a relationship that has been damaged, not simply curing one party's guilt. Maimonides, in his classic work, Mishneh Torah, describes the steps for doing teshuva; there has to be admission and regret over the misdeed. The individual must confess the sin to God, regret it, and promise to never do it again

A proper apology must show both regret and remorse; apology without remorse is meaningless. Also, the apology has to be contrite. Finally if someone’s apology is not accepted when first given, then according to Jewish law, one must try to apologize three times. After that, if the (sincere) apology is not accepted, it now becomes the other person's problem.

Former President Jimmy Carter has “apologized” to Jews in an open letter that he sent to JTA a Jewish wire service. He said he was offering an Al Het (Hebrew-for the sin), a prayer which is a plea for forgiveness recited only on Yom Kippur. His apology was for any past words or deeds that may have upset the Jewish community. "We must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel," Carter said in the letter. "As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so." I have a number of issues with Carter’s “apology.” (1) I don’t think it was sincere or heartfelt. He apologized for deeds that may have hurt Jews not that did hurt Jews. (2) There was no admission and regret about his past actions. (3) According to Jewish Law, I don’t have to accept it until he tries to apologize three times. (4) He has no religious right to claim his apology is an Al Het because that is a prayer only said on the day of Yom Kippur. It is arrogant of him to claim an Al Het on Christmas Eve day. (5) And the most significant reason I don’t accept his apology is because I feel it was only rendered to help his grandson’s potential Senate Race in Georgia. Grandson Jason Carter is planning to enter a race for an opening in the Georgia State Senate that will be created when current Georgia State Senator, David Adelman, is confirmed as Ambassador to Singapore. Jason Carter, who will be running in a district with a large Jewish population, said in a statement that his grandfather's letter was completely unrelated to his campaign and hailed the apology as a "great step towards reconciliation.” Jimmy Carter deeply offended Jews with his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” and now magically four years later he is showing contrition? And he expects us to believe that his timing has nothing to do with his Grandson’s political career? Jews might be forgiving, but we are not stupid. You might knock three times on my ceiling that you want me to accept it, but I am banging twice on the pipe that the answer is, NO.”