Our Gemara on Amud Beis deduces that the chattas sacrifice of the festivals and Rosh Chodesh is not for a specific transgression. Though it atones for inadvertent defilement while entering the Beis HaMikdash or eating sacrificial meat in impurity, this is not a specific, known sin (Rosh Hashanah 4b).
Kedushas Levi (Likkutim, Parashas Vayera) offers a fascinating peshat, also addressing the difficult aggadah of Avraham taking counsel from Mamreh before his Bris Milah (Bereishis 18:1; Rashi quoting Bereishis Rabbah 42:8). While one could explain this as technical medical consultation, Kedushas Levi finds that unconvincing. Instead, Mamreh offered spiritual insight:
A baal teshuva experiences daily renewal and growth. Each new awareness renders the prior day’s deeds relatively coarse, almost like inadvertent sins—not literally sinful, but spiritually deficient compared to the new level. Mamreh was preparing Avraham for that surge in holiness that follows entering the covenant.
Kedushas Levi says this is the true “sin of inadvertent impurity”—the shortfall of not yet having reached a higher spiritual state. Each new month or Yom Tov brings a higher level of awareness, and the chattas atones for the lack of sensitivity from the prior phase of life.
The Ramban (Bamidbar 6:14) explains that the Nazir’s chattas comes because, after living on a higher level, he now desires to return to physical indulgence. Expanding on this with Kedushas Levi’s idea, the Nazir also atones for not having lived on that higher level earlier. This reading fits even without assuming the return to normal life is sinful, as the Gemara (Ta’anis 11a) calls the Nazir sinful for self-affliction, not moderation. The Nazir’s chattas at the end, then, may express not guilt for rejoining ordinary life, but regret for not having risen sooner.
Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation
Free resource for couples/families:
Over 80 lectures on heathy communication, marriage and sexuality from a Torah perspective Click here
If you liked this, you might enjoy my Relationship Communications Guide. Click on the link above.
Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, LMFT, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com