We frequently find the expression, “Hadri Bi” ("I reversed myself"), in the Talmud when a Rabbi reverses his opinion.92Eruvin 52a, 64a; Pesachim 39a; Bava Kama 19a, 97a; Bava Metzia 65a. [However, the expression implies that he reversed himself rather than his opinion.] When the Talmud says, “Hadri Bi,” it is speaking of repentance. The Sage had interpreted the Torah incorrectly and was now repenting for it. As soon as he was questioned about this, he became aware of his error. He knew that it caused a blemish in the Torah for which he must repent.
Sometimes a person may have the potential for repentance, but it is not brought out to actuality. He may then try to perceive something above his level, and this will lead him to make actual his repentance.
[He reached above his ability, thus causing him to make this mistake. When his companion made him aware of his error, he immediately repented. In this manner, his potential for repentance was made actual.]
עִנְיַן "הָדְרֵי בִּי" [חוזר בי] הַנֶּאֱמַר בַּגְּמָרָא, זֶה הָיָה בְּחִינַת תְּשׁוּבָה, שֶׁשָּׁב בִּתְשׁוּבָה עַל שֶׁפָּגַם בַּתּוֹרָה, לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא כָּעִנְיָן וְכָרָאוּי. וְתֵכֶף וּמִיָּד שֶׁהִקְשָׁה אוֹתוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ הֵבִין מִיָּד שֶׁפָּגַם וְשָׁב בִּתְשׁוּבָה מִיָּד.
We frequently find the expression, “Hadri Bi” ("I reversed myself"), in the Talmud when a Rabbi reverses his opinion.92Eruvin 52a, 64a; Pesachim 39a; Bava Kama 19a, 97a; Bava Metzia 65a. [However, the expression implies that he reversed himself rather than his opinion.]
When the Talmud says, “Hadri Bi,” it is speaking of repentance. The Sage had interpreted the Torah incorrectly and was now repenting for it. As soon as he was questioned about this, he became aware of his error. He knew that it caused a blemish in the Torah for which he must repent.
כִּי יֵשׁ תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁהִיא בְּכֹחַ, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא יָצְאָה לַפֹּעַל, וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה אָדָם מַשִּׂיג לִפְעָמִים לְמַעְלָה מִמַּדְרֵגָתוֹ מַה שֶּׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לָזֶה, הוּא כְּדֵי שֶׁתֵּצֵא הַתְּשׁוּבָה מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל כַּנַּ"ל.
Sometimes a person may have the potential for repentance, but it is not brought out to actuality. He may then try to perceive something above his level, and this will lead him to make actual his repentance.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת הָדְרֵי בִּי, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה הָיְתָה בִּי מִתְּחִלָּה, רַק שֶׁהָיָה בְּכֹחַ כַּנַּ"ל וְעַתָּה יָצְאָה לַפֹּעַל.
Thus the Talmud says, “Hadri Bi” (literally, “I reversed in me”). For the repentance was in him, but only potentially. Only now can it be expressed.
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהִשִּׂיג לְמַעְלָה מִמַּדְרֵגָתוֹ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה פָּגַם לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא כָּעִנְיָן, וַאֲזַי חֲבֵרוֹ מַקְשֶׁה עָלָיו וְאָז הוּא מִתְעוֹרֵר מִיָּד וּמֵבִין שֶׁפָּגַם וְשָׁב בִּתְשׁוּבָה מִיָּד. נִמְצָא שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יָצְאָה הַתְּשׁוּבָה מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל.
[He reached above his ability, thus causing him to make this mistake. When his companion made him aware of his error, he immediately repented. In this manner, his potential for repentance was made actual.]