"You shall surely let go of your indignation" (Shemot 23:5). Imagine you share some personal information with your friend. A few days later someone tells you, "Dave told me that you having marital problems." You are mortified that your friend mentioned the issue that you had told him in confidence. How should you veiw him in the future? The Torah has remarkable advice, "Let it go!" Forget what happened and let go of your critical feelings. It is a Mitzvah to draw him close to you with love and friendship! Maybe this positive approach will have a good impact on him and he will be inspired by your compassion to correct and improve his ways.
Judgement and criticism of others is often counterproductive. The compassionate Torah has a game-changing idealogy: "Let it go," and win your friend's redemption by smiling on him with love, acceptance, and joy.
Emulate HaShem's compassion and forgiveness. (1) Let go of your judgements of others. (2) Respond to unsuitable behavior with love and friendship. (3) Give people the support and confidence to grow towards goodness and personal transformation. (4) Remember the healing power of love.
(Based on the commentary of the Tomer Devorah, Chapter One)
Each year on Rav Yisrael's yarzeit, we ask our subscribers to send us names and email addresses of their friends and family members who will be enriched by our daily lessons. We will explain to each new subscriber that a friend recommended that we add them to our subscriber list. If they prefer not to receive, we will show them how to easily "unsubscribe."
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Rabbi Yisrael Salanter said, "Whoever encourages others to study Mussar will merit great compassion from HaShem."
Tizke L'Mitzvot!
Rabbi Zvi Miller
