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Can you please define the punishment of Kareit (excision)?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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Kareit is the punishment for certain sins (for example, eating Chametz on Passover, eating on Yom Kippur, not circumcising oneself, etc.).


Kareit means "excision." The one who is the recipient of the punishment loses his/her spiritual connection with his/her divine source.


While the Holy Temple stood, before the Jews were exiled from their land, our sole source of life and vitality was from holiness. Therefore, when this life-line was cut, automatically the person would die without producing any more children. (Due to the traces of energy that remain within the person it was possible for the person to remain alive until the age of sixty (or according to some, fifty.)

Today, on the other hand, we receive most of our energy from klipah (anti-divinity forces), and it is, therefore, possible for one to be guilty of Kareit sins and still live a long life. The fact still remains that this person's connection to G-d, has been severed.


If one does a proper Teshuvah, the kareit can be avoided.

TAGS: Kareit, excision,

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Teshuvah
Repentance. Or, more literally, "return" to G-d. Teshuvah involves regretting the past and making a firm resolution not to repeat the offense.
Chametz
Any leavened product which is produced from wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oats. This includes bread, cake, cereals, crackers, biscuits, yeast, pasta and whisky. It is forbidden for a Jew to possess or consume Chametz throughout Passover.
Passover
A Biblically mandated early-spring festival celebrating the Jewish exodus from Egypt in the year 1312 BCE.
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement. This late-autumn high-holiday is the holiest day of the year. We devote this day to repentance and all healthy adults are required to fast.
Temple
1. Usually a reference to the Holy Temple which was/will be situated in Jerusalem. 1st Temple was built in 825 BCE and was destroyed in 423 BCE. The 2nd Temple was built in 350 BCE and was destroyed in 70 CE. The 3rd Temple will be built by the Messiah. 2. A synagogue.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.