Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The 48 Ways to Acquire Torah: Judging a Person Favorably
11:24 AM | 
Posted by
Rabbi Chaim Coffman |
The next of the 48 ways to Acquire Torah is judging a person favorably. This is talking about the average person who performs mitzvos and transgresses. When they are in a situation that one could judge their action either one, as long as they are not a habitual sinner, there is an obligation to judge them favorably. Why should this be so?
The average person deserves the benefit of the doubt. We all make mistakes but in a case where it could go either way, we should try as much as possible to judge the person favorably. After all, if we look at people in a favorable way, won't others look at us the same way?
At the same time, the more we look at others favorably, G-d will also look at us favorably. It is very easy to see the negative attributes of people and condemn for past things that they have done. The truly great people understand that we have our good days, bad days and that we are very much human.
People who look at others favorably in questionable situations doesn't make believe that what is happening doesn't exist and that they are naive. It means that they are positive people who want to look at others positively without being overly negative.
If on the other hand, we are talking about a habitual sinner who doesn't care about what they do or about others and they are in a questionable situation, there is no obligation to see what they have done in a positive manner. The reason is because they have spent their lives doing things that are forbidden and it is most likely what they are doing now is as well.
Since they have a track record for such things, my obligation to judge them favorably disappears. Although this may be a negative thing, nonetheless the direction that they are going in is a statement of their life and therefore does not warrant for my positive outlook!
The average person deserves the benefit of the doubt. We all make mistakes but in a case where it could go either way, we should try as much as possible to judge the person favorably. After all, if we look at people in a favorable way, won't others look at us the same way?
At the same time, the more we look at others favorably, G-d will also look at us favorably. It is very easy to see the negative attributes of people and condemn for past things that they have done. The truly great people understand that we have our good days, bad days and that we are very much human.
People who look at others favorably in questionable situations doesn't make believe that what is happening doesn't exist and that they are naive. It means that they are positive people who want to look at others positively without being overly negative.
If on the other hand, we are talking about a habitual sinner who doesn't care about what they do or about others and they are in a questionable situation, there is no obligation to see what they have done in a positive manner. The reason is because they have spent their lives doing things that are forbidden and it is most likely what they are doing now is as well.
Since they have a track record for such things, my obligation to judge them favorably disappears. Although this may be a negative thing, nonetheless the direction that they are going in is a statement of their life and therefore does not warrant for my positive outlook!
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