Sins: Revealed and Not

Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Elazar both say: The former ones (the generation of the destruction of the First Temple) whose sin was revealed had their end revealed, the latter ones (the generation of the destruction of the Second Temple) whose sin was not revealed have their end still unrevealed.              Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 9b

            Rashi explains that the sins which brought about the destruction of the First Temple, idolatry, murder and adultery, were “revealed” and committed openly, hence God “revealed their end,” announcing in advance that the first exile will last seventy years [Jeremiah 29:10]. However, the “latter ones” caused the destruction of the Second Temple through “baseless hatred” (sin’at ḥinam), a sin which was committed in secret, within ones heart, hence God kept secret the end of the second exile.

            My saintly teacher, Rabbi Mordechai Rogov, added an additional aspect of the distinction between the sins which brought about the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Concerning the three (cardinal) sins which caused the first destruction, the sinner cannot rationalize or convince himself that he has not sinned, it is clear to all, even to the sinner himself, that a grievous sin has been committed. Therefore, these sins leave open the path of repentance, through reflection on the great evil which has been done. However, concerning sin’at ḥinam, it is quite easy for the sinner to rationalize his hatred and convince himself that he has not sinned (and even perhaps that he is performing a mitzva). Because this sin was not revealed, that is, the sinners did not recognize nor acknowledge their sin, God did not reveal their end.

            We can add that our generation is in a situation similar to that of the generation of the Second Temple’s destruction, and we therefore are delaying our own redemption.