The Hebrew word for “forgive” used in this verse literally means “carry” or “lift.” Based on this, Rabbi Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, taught that G‑d elevates the spark of holiness in the misdeed. Nothing, not even a sin, can exist unless it contains a spark of holiness. When a person repents, G‑d elevates the Divine spark in his misdeed and returns it to its Divine source.
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad branch of Chasidism, explained this idea as follows: It is indeed impossible to elevate a sinful act; such an act is evil, and the only proper treatment for it is to renounce it. In contrast, the power of desire vested in the act is not evil, for it is possible to utilize this power to desire good as well as evil. When we repent properly, we divest our power of desire of its veneer of evil and restore it to its holy source.1
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