The 1970s gave us some ridiculous things, although some thought they were pretty cool back then — the fashions, the decor and this meme from the sappy movie, “Love Story”: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
Did anyone ever really buy into this? It is the exact antithesis of the point of Yom Kippur, which reminds us that forgiveness is not only something that we must seek from G-d. Forgiveness is also something we must seek from one another.
Interpersonal forgiveness is not simply a matter of saying “I’m sorry” or expecting someone to forget what happened. True forgiveness can take time, and the person who was burt can exercise an option to determine when — and whether — to forgive.
However, Yom Kippur encourages us not to let pride, pain or resentment become permanent barriers between people. Yom Kippur offers an opportunity to take the first step: to put aside defensiveness and reach out to someone out of a genuine desire to make things right.
Sometimes the most meaningful prayer of Yom Kippur is not spoken in a synagogue, but with the quiet words, “I am sorry. Please forgive me.”
© IJN 2026
