Therefore, the verse (Vayikra 4:2) wonders, “When a soul sins by mistake against any of the Lord’s commandments?” What is the significance of “by mistake [against any of the Lord’s commandments]?” [It is] to teach you that when anyone sins by mistake, [it is as if] one transgresses [intentionally] against the Lord’s commandments. (Midrash Tanchuma Vayikra siman 11)

I have often thought about the difference between a person who sins willingly versus unintentionally. If he does it willingly, he will get either kareis or lashes; if he sins unintentionally, he could bring an offering. When this offering is slaughtered in the Temple, it represents the unintentional sinner, as he is the one who really should have been sacrificed! Just as kareis brings the intentional sinner to a certain ending of life, so too this offering signifies an end for the unintentional sinner. But is sinning unintentionally really so bad? The sin might have been as simple as forgetting the day of the week (and he performed a forbidden action on Shabbos), or forgetting that an act was forbidden. Why do we see that this type of slip deserves that his life be terminated or overhauled?

Rabbi Josef Hirsch Dunner Z”L of London pointed out that this Medrash seems to say that when one sins unintentionally, it is as if he has transgressed all the mitzvos! He explains as follows: A person could be basically a good man and yet be overcome by the yetzer hara, “forcing” him to do something which he would normally avoid. Yet even after being overcome and sinning, he still sees himself as an honorable citizen of the Jewish nation (I am not saying that this is true – I am just explaining how he legitimizes that which he did). In order for this man to repent, we have to attack the specific desire which caused him to transgress the Will of G-d; that is done either through lashes or (getting him to understand that he will suffer) kareis. Whereas in general a person who transgresses unintentionally does so because it just does not seem important enough for him to know all the halachos or to be cognizant of where he is in time and place. This laxness towards mitzvot shows that he is not on the page that he is supposed to be. People do not make careless mistakes on things which are important to them. Therefore, explains Rabbi Dunner, when one doesn’t care enough to act responsibly, it is an indication of a general lack of caring about the service of Hashem.

The Brisker Rav was once brought to a city to examine a mikveh which was managed by a Slonimer Chosid. The Rav checked every nook and cranny with a candle in order to see if there was a crack through which water could escape, which would invalidate the mikveh. As the Rav seemed to be reaching the end of the examination, the chosid thought that the Brisker Rav had overlooked a certain spot. When he mentioned it to the Rav, the Rav quickly focused on that exact location. The chosid saw the Rav tremble, then turn white as his veins bulged. After looking again, the Rav said, “Yes, I checked that spot thoroughly, and it is fine.” The chosid was very moved by the Brisker Rav’s fear of Heaven and mentioned the story to the Slonimer Rebbe. The Rebbe chuckled and smiled and said to the chosid, “What do you think? Olam haba was empty until the Baal Shem Tov came around? There are G-d-fearing Jews, even amongst the non-chasidim!”

Rav Dovid Soloveitchik Z”L, the son of the Brisker Rav, once accidentally put on his left shoe before the right and was besides himself that he transgressed a halacha in Shulchan Aruch. Someone said to him, “Don’t worry – it’s not a major halacha!” Reb Dovid responded with fire and said something to the effect of, “Every halacha in Shulchan Aruch must be kept meticulously!”

Yes, one who has transgressed on something, even unintentionally, needs an overhaul. When a Jew who had sinned unintentionally came to the Beis Hamikdash to offer his sacrifice, and saw the kohahim performing their service, along with the miracles which occurred there day in and day out, he realized who he sinned against. This, coupled with the sacrifice that the person would bring in his stead, were effective in bringing a person to care about every detail of halacha.

As Pesach approaches and Spring is in the air, we too rejuvenate ourselves by preparing for this holiday in ways beyond what the halacha would demand. We are offering to Hashem an expression of our desire not to even unintentionally fall into a sin. It is true that those who exert themselves to an extra level of meticulousness, will have Divine assistance not to transgress even unintentionally.

As we clean up our house and put a new shine on everything, it will also make us shining citizens in Hashem’s world.