Forgive Us, and We Forgive You

On erev Yom Kippur, with many tears and a great outpouring of emotion, Reb Mottel Slonimer told this moshol. He said: "My father said in the name of the holy Maggid of Mezritch that there was once a country whose citizens had sinned against the king and had transgressed his edicts and the laws of the realm. They decided that they would repent from their ways and beg the king's forgiveness. They asked the prime minister to approach the king in their name, but he refused, saying, 'I, too, am counted among the sinners, yet my station is so high that my sin is greater; surely the king's anger toward me will be great. I cannot go and represent you.' Each of the other great ministers refused in turn, citing similar reasons. Finally, a simple peasant beggar got up and said, 'I will go to the king and represent us all.' He came before the king and said, 'Your Majesty, let us forgive each other. Lomir iberbeten, mir mit dir un du mit mir: we will forgive you if you forgive us.' His simple, honest words and sincere manner touched the king, and he forgave them."