Dear Daddy,

I am so sorry that I carry the pain and stubborness for not allowing myself to forgive you for not ever being there for me all of my 44 years in this life. I am so sorry that I can not understand why you never ever wanted me or loved me. I was your first born and I am the last person you want to know. I am very sorry for not moving on and missing you so much in my life. And most of all I am sorry that I am still the little girl that still misses her daddy very much!

April

I apologize in advance for being moody and a jerk while the Mets are in the playoffs.

G-d,

Please forgive me for all of my indiscretions. I am far from perfect and have not always been the nicest person or friend. I have spoken in vain about others and have caused pain by actions. I have also been unfaithful to my spouse. I have suffered severe consequences that I believe was retribution by G-d for my indiscretions. I beg for forgiveness and plead to be written in the good book for the next year. Not just for me but most importantly for my family who have suffered from my actions.

Please forgive me.

I sometimes find it very hard to accept what has happened to me and my life in the past 22 years. I wonder why at the age of 40 I was chosen to lose my husband and begin a decent into a black hole ( it took me 20 years to fall to the bottom) and now at age 62 I'm still trying to find my way out. My friend says it's our karma, that what is happening in our lives now is payback for what we did in previous' lives or for bad things we did in this life ( I don't recall ever doing anything really bad other than the usual childhood pranks).

Nothing in the past 22 years has ever come easy to me, and what I did accomplish and save was
lost during my first encounter with nearly dying. Now, having gone through something similar this past summer (nearly dying) I question even more why, why is life so hard for me and my loved ones?

I don't know if there is anyone out there who I need to ask forgiveness of, maybe there is and I'm just kidding myself. I'm not a perfect person, I've made my share of mistakes so if I have offended anyone recently or in the past I ask to be forgiven for those deeds.

I have a strong belief in G-d, I am a Jew who semi practices her religion. I
am proud to be Jewish and I truly believe that whatever happens in life is in G-d's hands.

isferber

I forgive my Dad. He gave me money for my utility bill, but he lost his temper and swore at me. He was disappointed in me because he grew up very poor and he never had anyone to help him out in this way. I understand why he was angry, and I forgive him for it. I know he loves me.

I forgive my mother for not protecting me from mental abuse by my "step-father". She was only looking for someone who cared about her. This man turned out to be a drug addict. My mother is such a good woman. She did not deserve this. She is always there for her children, but when we told her to leave this man who used her, she was hesitant. She was only looking for security. I completely forgive her.

To my husband:

I'm so sorry for the hurt I have caused you and continue to cause you, even though you are unaware. I know you are trying to show how much you love me, but I'm afraid it's too late. I love you, but I don't know if I'm in love with you any more.

I'm just as happy being by myself as with you, maybe more so because I don't have to deal with the inadequacies of our relationship.

Just remember, you are still you… it is me who has changed.
Anonymous

Dear Rob,

Please forgive me for all the impatience. Please forgive me for my temper and yelling. Please help me find the way to peaceful solutions and resolutions. You know that I love you and the girls more than anything in the world.

Love,
Joy

I wish I who knew to forgive and who to ask forgiveness from. All I know is that I spend a lot of time feeling dread and guilt over things I can't name.

Dear sister:

At this time so close to your yahrzeit I ask for forgiveness for not being able to support you in the way that I should have. I wish that I had stayed that last weekend as you wanted and I am so sorry for that. I remember that you called and said that you didn’t mean for me to feel badly, that it was a misunderstanding on your part, and I remember that you had love in your heart and voice. I wish I could have had as much love in mine. I miss you.

Join Project Forgiveness by sending us a postcard or email to share on the site.

How?

It's simple.

Take a peice of paper or postcard or cardboard or tissue or anything else you find. Cut out pictures, print images, draw or paint and share your thoughts. Then, mail the postcard to the P.O. Box you see on the left. OR....Have fun with powerpoint, illustrator or any other program and send us an email to forgiveness@njop.org. All entries are anonymous unless otherwise requested.

Thanks!

Felicia:

please forgive me, these many years later, for never having the courage to tell you that I loved you. I settled for being your 'big brother,' because I wasn't brave enough to risk my feelings and be honest with you. I couldn't stand the thought of possibly being rejected by you, and I didn't want to be hurt if you could not love me the way I loved you; and if you had returned my love, I was afraid I'd mess up the relationship in some way, and still lose you. If I had been as brave as I often pretended to be, I would have told you how deeply I loved you, and faced what ever had to come.

Michael

First of all I want to apologize to my family for putting them through this mess I created. I never meant to cause you any pain. I am stupid and I am terribly sorry.

Second to my church family. I hope that someday you can forgive me. I understand that if you can't.

Lastly, I want to apologize to my Father and Creator. I am so sorry. I know that when you created me that you never expected this from me. Please forgive me if you can and watch over me and my siblings and my entire church family and my friends. I want to thank you for everything .

Mike

Dear Mama,

I understand that you hurt me because you were in pain. I understand that you were hurt by people whom you loved, and that you have forgiven them.

It's very hard for me to forgive, because it seems like I'm saying that it's okay for people to hurt me. I know that forgiveness is the only way to free myself from the pain of the past.

I know that you did the best that you could. I forgive you. I know that you have forgiven me too.

I love you.

--Jenifer

Subject: I forgive you, to my attorney

Since you are a member of the Jewish faith, it seems appropriate that I offer forgiveness and tell you how very hard it has been since the pain has been so fresh and so all encompassing.

I forgive you for trying to take more than your agreed percentage when representing me on my case. I forgive your anger when I confronted you with this information. I forgive you for forcing your secretary, my friend, to quit because you began an affair with your new assistant and made a fool out of all of them and your wife. I hope that you can attend your temple and address these issues with God and that you can find a path to a more honest, loving life with your wife and children.

I am working hard at moving forward, and have taken a big step by forgiving you.

- Anonymous

Karen, I am sorry for not believing you. I am sorry for adding to your hurt. I know now what you went through. Please forgive me. I want to forgive myself too for behaving in such an ungodly manner.

Patty

Dear David, [editors note: this is addressed to Dr. David Lieberman http://projectforgiveness.blogspot.com/2006/08/when-i-heard-about-national-jewish.html]

I just have to thank you. This is going to sound like a phoney endorsement...but I just have to say thank you.

In November last year I emailed you after I had flown 1000 miles and delivered a hand-written letter (as per chapter 18 of your "Make Peace With Anyone" book), and then left without seeing the person. A few weeks after delivering it, I handn't had a reply and asked your advice. You suggested I "let time take over".

Well I did that, and eventually I came to an inner peace over things and felt happy that I had done what I could to put things right. Well....today came a breakthrough. I had to go to the city of the woman in question for three days at a conference. On the last afternoon, I wrote another letter in much the same format and saying that I was leaving it just before flying out. I delivered it to the reception of her work....and, by chance one hour later as I was waiting for my taxi with my suitcase, she bumped into me.

She immediately thanked me for my letter and we chatted warmly for some minutes before interupted by my colleague. As she left, she said "I'll respond to your letter". And I caught the plane home.

Now, that might not sound like much...but I am even now too ashamed to tell you how appallingly I behaved toward her 16 months ago. That she is speaking to me at all is a miracle. That she was warm and friendly is beyond incredible. I don't know if we will become friends again...but I know that mutual respect has been re-established....and that is so, so good.
Thank you. Thank you will all of my heart.

Kindest regards,

I.

Dear Steve,

Please forgive me for insinuating myself into your life. I do not want to cause pain for you or your loved ones, your wife and son. I wish only peace, happiness, and love to all of you. I am sorry for trying to manipulate an outcome that results in sadness.

Thank you for coming into my life to let me know that I am loveable and amazing. I apologize for trying to take advantage of that support to suit my own needs.

Thank you Lord, for continuing to bless us indeed. Thank you for continuing to enlarge our territories. Thank you for continuing to keep us all safe from harm and that we may cause no pain.

I ask that it is done quickly and in peace, and with ease and love and joy, according to my highest and best good and that of all concerned. we are thanking thee, so be it, so be it, so be it. We allow compassion, forgiveness, niracle and mercy.

--Jenifer

Dear Angi,

Please forgive me interferring with your marriage and coveting your husband. I do not want to cause pain for you or Steve or your son. You have a wonderful, loving husband. I treasure the support that he has given me. I wish only peace, happiness, and love to all of you.

Thank you Lord, for continuing to bless us indeed. Thank you for continuing to enlarge our territories. Thank you for continuing to keep us all safe from harm and that we may cause no pain.

I ask that it is done quickly and in peace, and with ease and love and joy, according to my highest and best good and that of all concerned. we are thanking thee, so be it, so be it, so be it. We allow compassion, forgiveness, niracle and mercy.

--Jenifer

I had 2 abortions. Everyday I wish I never did that.
I was a coward and did not have the courage to have my babies.
I am a Catholic. I go to church and ask God to forgive me.
But I can't go to confess and ask the priest for forgiveness.
Thank you for listening
Rosa S.

I want to ask God to forgive me for wasting my blessings and squandering my potential. I want to ask God to forgive me for being selfish and self-absorbed. I want to ask God to forgive me for my lack of faith and hope. I don't know how I got this way. I am asking for forgiveness for always trying to shortchange the situation and myself. All I know is that being this way is killing me inside. It can't go on, nor do I want it to. My core needs healing, Lord, and I pray that you provide that healing. Please continue to show me mercy. I am trying.

Shannon

Sent by Anonymous

To Whom It May Concern In Project Forgiveness

My feeling doesn’t match my husband’s version, with respect to forgive and forget.

I think it’s a matter of degree. On minor matters most people do forgive and forget. An on personal insults and damaging another’s financial well being; and even things hurtful to the nations economy –even those situations sometimes can be resolved with an apology or political correction.

But then there’s the whole in –between where, once corrected, people make a conscious effort not to bring up the subject but all parties have it close to the surface. Now I know that is not forgive and forget, but it is close.

And then there’s the whole other subject of tyranny, terrorism and murder. The words forgive and forget simply do not apply.

Sincerely,
A Womans Point of View

The whole business of forgive and forget has always been troublesome – in world affairs of course, but just as dearly in the synagogue.
The more devoted to the synagogue, it seems, the more unforgiving are the slights to the Rabbi or the President. Sadly, in the 80+ years of our Temple’s existence, more than once have cliques resigned en masse and spiritual leaders not been renewed; always to the detriment of our Jewish community. No one dares suggest the concept of forgive and forget.

Is there a solution? Certainly I won’t venture a suggestion as to world or national animosities, but as to synagogue life, one step forward might be refining Rabbinical training to accommodate the idiosyncrasies, power struggles, and opinionated brethren and serious training in togetherness for synagogue leadership.

Sincerely,
Once who respects the course to which you are devoted.


- Anonymous

Forgive: From Miami

I am sorry for blaming you for my second marriage gone wrong. It was wrong of me to spread rumors and make up stories to make myself look good and make you, an innocent bystander, look bad. The marriage was falling apart and I just went to find an outlet, someone or something to blame for it and you were there.

Please forgive me, I was 110% wrong! I am also sorry for my sister calling you and saying all those bad things. I am wrong, I am sorry!

--UWS Single Again

Join Project Forgiveness by sending us a postcard or email to share on the site.


How?

It's simple. Take a peice of paper or postcard or cardboard or tissue or anything else you find. Cut out pictures, print images, draw or paint and share your thoughts. Then, mail the postcard to the P.O. Box you see on the left.

OR....

Have fun with powerpoint, illustrator or any other program and send us an email to forgiveness@njop.org.

All entries are anonymous unless otherwise requested.


Thanks!

Sent by Anonymous

From West Coast Mom

Is it possible to forgive someone if you are still angry? What does forgiveness mean?

- Anonymous from New Jersey

When I hit the old lady’s bumper on the Palisades Parkway, the police did not let me get out of the car to tell her I was sorry.

- New York

Sent by Anonymous

Sent by Anonymous

Sent by Anonymous

Sent by Anonymous

Sent by Anonymous.

Sent by Anonymous:

Sent by Anonymous.

Earlier today Mel Gibson issued a statement expressing regret for comments made last week:

"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark," Gibson said in a statement issued by his publicist. "I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/01/gibson.dui/index.html?section=cnn_topstories


- Mel Gibson

When I heard about National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) Project Forgiveness, I expressed my interest in supporting the program. The Jewish tradition places a unique emphasis on forgiveness between human beings. As NJOP hopes to inspire us to consider forgiveness during the days leading to the Jewish New Year, I welcome the opportunity to take part in this project and help shed light on how the path to forgiveness is also the path to the emotional freedom we all deserve.

Relationships are central to our mental health and have the potential to sustain or drain us emotionally, spiritually and physically. If you are struggling with forgiveness, you understand the challenge it can be to grant or to request forgiveness.

For those seeking to grant forgiveness, consider the following: often we feel we cannot forgive unless we understand the reason we were wronged. The reality is, we do not have understand why someone did what they did in order to forgive. Remember, forgiveness does not excuse anyone’s behavior, rather it allows the forgiver to put the past where it belongs – behind us. We forgive, not for the wrong-doer, but for ourselves.

The same is true for those requesting forgiveness. When we apologize, we let go of the ego. Forgiveness must be requested with humility, understanding that the request is not about us but about the person wronged. Part of asking for forgiveness is taking full responsibility for our actions and in doing so, we often begin to forgive ourselves as well.

Both forgiving and apologizing are closely linked to independence, self-respect and emotional freedom. I encourage those visiting the site to send a note or a postcard to NJOP Project Forgiveness and take that first step towards those who have wronged you or to those whom you have wronged. It is my hope that Project Forgiveness will lead to personal, emotional freedom for all who take part.

-- David J. Lieberman

Welcome to Project Forgiveness.

Here, we will collect and post letters, emails, postcards and other expressions of forgiveness from those who seek to forgive and from those who seek to request forgiveness. In the days leading up to the Jewish New Year, we offer this forum for forgiveness as a first step. It is our hope that sharing thoughts of forgiveness online will translate into actual forgiveness between individuals in the days to come.

Please email forgiveness or send an anonymous postcard or letter to:

Project Forgiveness
WPR
P.O. Box 5134
Bergenfield, NJ 07621