‘Forgive and forget’?

"In Judaism it is not the victim that is commanded not to forget the wrong done. The perpetrator of that wrong is the one bidden not to forget. Therefore, we find Avraham, after praying for Avimelech and his court, severely reproving him for his behavior. In the words of the Talmud, Avraham tells him: "A stranger arrives in town searching for lodging and hospitality and the only thing you are interested in is the woman who accompanies him." Avraham wants Avimelech to remember the incident.

Without that memory the forgiveness part is almost worthless. One cannot forgive a serial criminal. Only the guilty one who remembers the wrong done and pledges not to allow it to recur is truly capable of being forgiven in the eyes of man and Heaven as well."

Click on the link below for the full article:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/wein/wein_forgive_forget.php3