Apologising in public

[Leo613]

According to Jewish law when does a public figure need to apologise in public?

 

[Akivah]

Due to the lack of responses, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there is nothing in Jewish law regarding your question.

 

[metis]

I think there is in terms of when one publicly demeans another in an attempt at character assassination, whereas we must make up for the damage we've done.

 

[Akivah]

That is only for teshuvah in a specific circumstance, if that is what is needed. Apologizing in public is not a generic action that is specifically mentioned in the Tanakh.

 

[metis]

That is only for teshuvah in a specific circumstance, if that is what is needed. Apologizing in public is not a generic action that is specifically mentioned in the Tanakh.

But undoing damage is, and I know of at least one commentary that has it that publicly demeaning a fellow Jew is tantamount to murder, although the possible penalty is obviously different. BTW, see items #28 and #33 here: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm .

 

[Akivah]

But undoing damage is, and I know of at least one commentary that has it that publicly demeaning a fellow Jew is tantamount to murder, although the possible penalty is obviously different. BTW, see items #28 and #33 here: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm .

And where does it say that the teshuvah must be done in public?

 

[metis]

And where does it say that the teshuvah must be done in public?

It's not necessarily what's said but a matter of reversing the wrong. If I publicly demean you in order to defame you, then I logically should publicly apologize. It's not always just that which is written that one should follow. We have an obligation to correct our wrongs, so if we publicly defame someone, then we should publicly try and make up for it. That's unless you think we should just say 10 Hail Mary's?

 

[Akivah]

It's not necessarily what's said but a matter of reversing the wrong. If I publicly demean you in order to defame you, then I logically should publicly apologize. It's not always just that which is written that one should follow. We have an obligation to correct our wrongs, so if we publicly defame someone, then we should publicly try and make up for it.

Then you are agreeing with my post #4. Todah.

 

[metis]

Then you are agreeing with my post #4. Todah.

No, you agreed with mine because yours was just premature and much less sophistimicated.

 

[Akivah]

No, you agreed with mine because yours was just premature and much less sophistimicated.

I was responding Leo so I was purposefully keeping it simple.

 

[metis]

I was responding Leo so I was purposefully keeping it simple.

Ah, but Rabbi Gandhi said "the truth is rarely simple".

Good Shabbos to ya.