It is interesting to note that unlike the first two requests for daat and teshuvah, here we offer justification for our request: “because You are one who pardons and forgives.” To give God a reason to forgive us is a bold move. Our words here indicate that we have progressed in confidence and assertiveness regarding the power of our prayers. We are no longer humbly asking. We are now making a case, emphatically presenting a reason why God should do what we request. This change in stature signals an added degree of self-worth, enabling us to stand more confidently and comfortably before God. With each request, we sense more and more of our own godliness. The Shechinah—the Divine Presence—becomes more present in our voice. With each request we feel more empowered and more able to fulfill the purpose of the Amidah—to confidently stand in God’s presence and enjoy a direct and loving relationship with Him. Actually, the case we make for being forgiven is odd. “Because You are one who pardons and forgives” doesn’t sound very compelling. What we are claiming is: “God, forgive and pardon us because that is what You do and the kind of God You are. Consider our wrongdoing as an opportunity for You to make manifest Your attributes of forgiveness and pardon. We are not asking You do it for our sake—we know we don’t deserve that. Rather, forgive and pardon us for Your sake.” This reasoning is similar to what Moses used when God considered abandoning the Jewish people in the desert after their terrible sins. Moses argued, “If You destroy the people, consider how it will look in the eyes of the Egyptians. They will conclude that You took the Jews out of bondage but then couldn’t handle them. This will make You look bad. Forgive and pardon them for Your sake. This is an opportunity for You to manifest Yourself as the God of forgiveness and pardon.” Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the great 16th century Kabbalist known as the Ari, explains that God’s purpose for creating the universe was to manifest His attributes. In other words, the challenges in this world afford God the opportunity to reveal Himself. For example, if we never sinned, how could God manifest His power of forgiveness and unconditional love? Therefore, in this third blessing we ask God to do it for His sake. (We will see, however, that in the upcoming requests we will gradually feel more empowered and worthy to ask God to fulfill our requests for our own sake.) We conclude our third request with, “Blessed are You, YHVH, who graciously and abundantly forgives.”