Asking forgiveness

The following is part of an email I received by Rabbi Eli Mansour.
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 606:1) writes that one does not earn atonement on Yom Kippur for offenses committed against other people unless he receives their forgiveness. Therefore, it is imperative for a person to approach those people whom he has wronged during the year to ask them forgiveness before Yom Kippur. This applies to both financial and verbal offenses. In the case of a financial offense, of course, one must also return the funds in question.The Shulhan Aruch writes that if the victim does not grant forgiveness when the offender first approaches him, the offender should return to him, as many as three times. He then earns atonement even if the victim still refuses to forgive....
...... Finally, the Sages also emphasize the importance of granting forgiveness to others. The Rabbis teach that one should not be "cruel" by refusing to grant forgiveness to somebody who offended him. A person who willingly grants forgiveness to others will earn God's forgiveness for whatever sins he may have committed.
www.dailyhalacha.com

The following is an excerpt from a CNN article about the death of Clifton Maloney, the husband of U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, during a mountain-climbing trip in Tibet.
"He summited the mountain at 27,000 feet," spokesman George Arzt said. "He went down to a base camp at 23,000 [feet]. He slept and never awakened."
...Arzt said that, before he fell asleep, Maloney told a traveling companion, "I'm the happiest man in the world -- I just summitted a beautiful mountain."
Read more:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/26/new.york.maloney.husband/index.html

As we enter Yom Kippur, let's resolve to climb our individual summits, whether it is conquering overeating, anger, etc. so that we can achieve true joy.
Wishing you a gemar chatima tova. May you be sealed in the Book of Life for a year of prosperity, health, happiness and spiritual growth.