1. (Beraisa): A case occurred in which a thief wanted to repent. His wife dissuaded him, for then he would need to return even his belt!
2. It was then enacted not to accept from thieves or people who collected Ribis who want to return what they took.
I totally don't understand this incident: Why was it that the Chachamim enacted not to enable tshuva? If you look at the pashuter teitsh, it seems different from what Rashi is trying to say about Ruach Chachma B'Kirbo. Can you enlighten this maaseh and takanah at all? Thanks,
MG
The Meiri explains that this means that they should not be able to return the items without first being refused. This, he says, is in order to make them repent. I believe that he means the following:
Being that these sins are very common, people who do them think that they ae not really a big deal. Even if they give back what they took, they do not take it so seriously. It was therefore instituted that people should refuse them, showing that they cannot repent so easily from such a sin. When they realize that people consider this a serious sin and repentance is difficult, they will more likely desist from sinning. This is why it is a "Chassidus" to refuse, as it shows wisdom and caring about the sinner, as this is what is best for him, despite the fact that it might make it harder for one to get back what is owed to him.
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose