As Dennis Prager, a radio talk show host from LA explained it: "The relevant Jewish view of forgiveness is that a person who hurts another person must ask forgiveness from his victim God himself does not forgive a person who has sinned against a human being unless that human being has been forgiven by his victim. Therefore, people can never forgive murder, since the one person who can forgive is gone, forever. (226)".
There is also the issue of Simon's right to grant this forgiveness. Is it in Simon's authority to grant forgiveness for a sin that was committed against another party? And it must also be considered, when answering this question, that Simon would base this pardon on a possibly fabricated testimonial and an insincere repentance. Again we are plagued by Wiesenthal's vagueness in his definition of forgiveness. Is the pardon in question limited to the opinions of man or does it extend to the powers of heaven? To say that Karl is forgiven by god is preposterous. Simon does not claim to possess a communication with or power over god so it is not possible for him to reflect on the position of God. He does not have the capability to make a divine absolution. So now we are limited to mortal forgiveness. Is Simon speaking for himself alone or as Jews en masse? Simon can reveal his own opinion and has the right to forgive the soldier. For it is his view and is decision. However, in the situation and phrasing of Karl's request one can easily infer that Simon has been chosen as a dignitary, an ambassador of sorts, for his Jewish community in whole. In this situation, where Simon was once free to pardon Karl, he now cannot. As Erich H. Loewry, a professor of ethics described it: "No one can forgive others something that has not been done to them directly. Nor is it Wiesenthal's role to point out the possibility of forgiveness by god. (204)".
Forgiveness could be meant as restraint from pursuing revenge.
