Now Yosef could not bear all those standing beside him, and he called out, "Take everyone away from me!" So no one stood with him when Yosef made himself known to his brothers. [Vayigash 45:1]
Yosef could not bear that Egyptians would stand beside him and hear his brothers being embarrassed when he would make himself known to them. [Rashi]
We can learn from the example of Yosef towards his brothers that one should never seek revenge against a person who causes him any form of distress or damage. Rather, one should repay even a guilty offender with kindness. [Tanya ch.12]
Why should we be kind to guilty offenders?
Because whatever that person did to you ultimately stems from G-d. The person was merely an agent from G-d, Who decreed that this thing should happen to you.
Thus, since "everything that G-d does is for the good", you must repay the person - who brought this "good" to you - with kindness.
Source: Likutei Sichos Lubavitcher Rebbe
5 comments:
Yes, but mainly not to embarrass a fellow Jew in public (or private).
(just love that picture; the "I gotcha" look on her face.)
The Talmud says that whomever has give up idolatry is like a jew. In that case would you mind trait us "goyim" in a different manner?
Nevertheless as Neshama says the article needs clarification.
Ed
David, when you talk about ''goyim'' - that is a general term for the nations. Those who worship idols are different to those who believe in the one God and keep the Seven Laws of Noah.
'''Turning the other cheek'' is not a Jewish concept. We are allowed, and instructed, to fight back when it comes to matters of life and death.
But generally we do not take ''revenge'' for trivial matters. Leave that to Hashem to deal with.
You are right Devorah, I should have been more precise for that matter.
Sorry Anonymous but as I wrote in the first place it was just my own thinking, a personal opinion not based on any sort of Jewish law.
Anyway, I should have read better, and that's I just deleted my first message. The Rebbe is not writing about defending ourselves but about holding anger to revenge ourselves. I completely agree with him now I read it correctly.
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