The Slap

Posted on Friday, 28, February, 2025Friday, 28, February, 2025 by Rabbi

a folktale of justice from Turkey

The teacher, Nasreddin Hodja, was standing in the marketplace when a stranger stepped up to him and slapped him in the face. The stranger then said, “I beg your pardon. I thought that you were someone else.”

This explanation did not satisfy Nasreddin, so he brought the stranger before the qadi and demanded justice.

Nasreddin soon realized that the qadi and the stranger were friends. The stranger admitted his guilt, and the judge pronounced the sentence: “The settlement for this offense is one copper coin to be paid to the Nasreddin. If you do not have a copper coin with you, then you may bring it here to the Nasreddin at your convenience.”

Hearing this sentence, the stranger went on his way. Nasreddin waited for him to return with the copper coin. And he waited. And he waited.

Justice

Sometime later, Nasreddin said to the qadi, “Do I understand correctly that one copper coin is sufficient payment for a slap?”

“Yes,” answered the qadi.

Hearing this answer, Nasreddin slapped the judge in the face and said, “You may keep my copper coin when the stranger returns with it,” then walked away.

Justice is sometimes a matter of perception. If there is no justice, there is no peace. (Kad haKemach 14th Century)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared, they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Ooka the Wise and the Two Women

Posted on Friday, 3, January, 2025 by Rabbi

A Tale of Justice and Wisdom from Japan

One day, a case concerning a baby boy came to Ooka’s court. Two women claimed to be the boy’s mother, and Ooka was faced with the challenge of deciding which woman was telling the truth. Both women had recently come to Yedo (old Tokyo), and so there were no witnesses to support either claim.

Thinking that the child himself would be sure to recognize his own mother, the judge placed him in the middle of the floor, expecting him to crawl toward one of the women. But the child paid no attention to either of the two women and cried for Ooka to pick him up.

Whispers of amusement ran around the courtroom and Ooka’s ears began to rum pink.

The great judge soon thought of another test, however. He ordered the two women to take hold of one of the baby’s arms and to pull as hard as they were able.

“I am sure the real mother will be given strength so that she will win the struggle,” he explained. What he really expected was the real mother would stop pulling the child, for fear of hurting him.

Sadly the two women were not fooled by Ooka’s cleverness, and told the judge they knew he was playing a trick.

Ooka sighed. Finally, he called a court attendant and said, “Go buy me a bowl of goldfish, a handful of bamboo sticks, three pieces of wood, a magnifying glass, and a copy of a book on fortunetelling.”

Ooka the Wise was embarrassed as loud laughter spread around the courtroom. Many of the spectators believed that at last the great judge was defeated by a case.

Ooka quickly called for silence. His ears were very red.

Soon the attendant returned with the articles Ooka had requested. Ooka spread them out carefully in front of him with much ceremony and solemnity. “Now it is obvious to me – as it is to many of you – that I cannot solve this matter,” he said. “Nevertheless, I shall arrive at a just decision, for I shall use these articles to look into the future. There I shall see what my decision should be.”

The spectators were astonished. Ooka the Wise had always used logic and common sense to solve cases. They had never known him to rely on mystical arts such as fortunetelling.

Gravely, the judge took each of the objects and studied them carefully, consulting the fortunetelling book from time to time. He rolled the bamboo sticks to learn their secret. He counted the bubbles in the goldfish bowl. He held the pieces of wood to his ears, and listened to their echoes. Finally, he studied the two women’s palms.

All this Ooka did very thoroughly and slowly, and by the time he had finished, the crowd had become very restless. Everyone was relieved when at last the judge said, “I see it quite clearly now, I have used all the best methods of foreseeing the future, and they all give the same answer. Therefore what I see must be the truth.”

Ooka paused and looked around the courtroom. The spectators waited anxiously to hear what Ooka the Wise had learned.

The judge continued. “I saw very clearly the real mother with her son as they will be twenty years from now. The boy had met with an accident and was a helpless invalid. His mother was working in the rice fields to support him.”

Both women gasped in horror. Ooka looked at them sorrowfully and added, “And the woman I saw in my vision was…”

“Stop!” cried one of the women. “lt was not I! Children are supposed to take care of their parents when they become old, not the other way around.”

“ls that so?” Ooka said. He turned to the other woman. “And how do you feel about my prophecy?” he asked.

“It makes no difference, Most Honorable Sir,” the woman replied.

“I will work for my child while there is breath in my body, and then I will die happy, knowing that I have served him.”

“Then this is really your true son,” said the judge. “The other wanted him only so that he could take care of her in her old age. Take the child with the court’s good wishes.”

The happy mother took the child in her arms. Ooka the Wise said casually, “Oh, I forgot to finish the prophecy. The child recovered from the injury i saw. He became rich and famous. He, his mother, his fine wife, and thirteen children lived happily together for many, many years.”

Strangely enough, Ooka’s prophecy came true. Everyone was surprised, except the judge. “If I had not been called to the law,” he often said later, “I would probably have made an excellent fortuneteller.”

Jpanese Folktales

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

What Does a Bribe Look Like

Posted on Friday, 20, December, 2024 by Rabbi

Once, two men were to appear before an older judge over a matter concerning a lot of money. One of the men came the day before he was to appear in court and asked the judge to help him. As he spoke, he laid five hundred silver coins on the table. The old judge took the money and told the man to come back the next day.

That evening the old judge asked that a big dinner be served. He called together his sons, sons-in-law, and many of his colleagues and students. During the meal, the old judge took out the five hundred silver coins and began counting them in front of everyone.

All looked on expectantly, hoping to receive some of the money. After the old judge had counted the money a few times, he put all the coins into his pocket and said:

“Know, my children, that the money that you see is a bribe, and bribery is forbidden by the Holy Word. We are taught, ‘You shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just.’ (Deuteronomy 16:19)

It is the responsibility of a judge and leader to ‘learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed’ (Isaiah 1:17) and to set an example for others to follow.

Every day, ‘I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice’ (Proverbs 8:20), and I wanted to show you what a bribe looks like so that you will know what to avoid.

The next day, the old judge returned the five hundred silver coins to the man and warned him that one is forbidden to either give or receive a bribe.

May the day come soon that ‘all bribery and injustice will be blotted out, and good faith will last forever.’ (Sirach 40:12)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

How to Tell a Liar

Posted on Friday, 13, December, 2024 by Rabbi

The character of liars leads to disgrace, and

their shame is ever with them. (Sirach 20:26)

Two men came before a judge. One had found a gold coin, and the other claimed it had fallen from his pocket. The judge felt that the man who claimed to have dropped it was not telling the truth. He ordered the two men out of his room and into two adjacent rooms in preparation for hearing the matter.

As soon as the men had left, the judge moved close to the room where the man who claimed to have lost the coin was waiting and began speaking to himself. “Had the man who claims to have lost it stated that there is a hole in the coin, that would be clear proof that it is his because a hole in a coin is considered to be valid proof,” he said.

A little later, he called the man in for questioning. As soon as the man entered, he burst out, “Your Honor, you know that I never saw the coin that was found, but I can prove to you it was mine. The coin had a hole in it.”

“If that is so,” said the judge, “you must be mistaken. This cannot be your coin because it does not have any hole in it.”

The judge sent the men away, saying, “An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.” (Proverbs 17:4)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

A Test of Underwear

Posted on Friday, 6, December, 2024 by Rabbi

Once, two women came to the town judge with a dispute. Both women had hung out their underclothing to dry, and someone had stolen one of the washes. Each claimed that the other’s laundry had been stolen. For the desperately poor people of the time, such a loss was a major tragedy.

The town judge ordered that the remaining wash be brought to him. He then had the two women leave the room temporarily and asked his wife to add some of her own laundry to the pile. He then called one of the women back and asked her, “Do you recognize your laundry?” She began sorting the clothes. “This is mine, this isn’t, this is mine, I’ve never seen this before, oh goodness. I’d never wear anything like this…” she answered.

The town judge then ordered that the clothes be mixed up again, and called the other woman in. “Do you recognize your wash?” he asked her. She began going through the pile: ‘This is mine, and this, and this … all are mine,” she said.

“Are you sure that all are yours?” asked the judge. “Yes,” she said decisively, “everything here is mine.”

“You being less than truthful,” the Judge told her, “and the laundry belongs to the other woman.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

What Does a Bribe Look Like

Posted on Sunday, 14, July, 2024 by Rabbi

Once, two men were to appear before an older judge over a matter concerning a lot of money. One of the men came the day before his appearance and asked the judge to help him. As he spoke, he laid five hundred silver coins on the table. The judge took the money and told the man to come back the next day.

That evening the old judge asked that a big dinner be served, and he called together his sons, sons-in-law, and many of his students. During the meal, the old judge took out the five hundred silver coins and began counting them in front of everyone. All looked on expectantly, hoping to receive some of the money.

After the old judge had counted the money a few times, he put all the coins into his pocket and said:

“Know, my children, that the money that you see is a bribe, and bribery is forbidden by the Holy Word. We are taught, ‘You shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just.’ (Deuteronomy 16:19)

It is the responsibility of a judge and leader to ‘learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed’ (Isaiah 1:17) and to set an example for others to follow.

Every day, ‘I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice’ (Proverbs 8:20), and I wanted to show you what a bribe looks like so that you will know what to avoid.

The next day, the old judge returned the five hundred silver coins to the man and warned him that one is forbidden to either give or receive a bribe.

May the day come soon that ‘all bribery and injustice will be blotted out, and good faith will last forever.’ (Sirach 40:12)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

The Clever Judge and the Bride’s Missing Clothes

Posted on Monday, 5, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was a man of wisdom, a man of justice, kindness, and faith. It was said that he brought justice, in all its forms to all who came to him. It is decreed, ‘Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue’ (Deuteronomy 16:20) So I ask you to listen and I will tell you a little of the wisdom of a judge long long ago.”

There came before him once a man who was troubled to tears, requesting, “Help me please, give me counsel, for overwhelming destruction has found me.” “What bothers you so that you cry such bitter tears? Asked the wise man. The troubled man answered, “My noble sir, I have but one daughter, and for her did I arrange a marriage, giving her to one of the sons of my people. But yesterday I brought unto my house the betrothed lad and his father, and I invited with them my neighbors who are close to me. I showed them the fine dresses and robes, jewelry and precious stones which had been prepared for the day of their wedding, for the gladness and joy of my daughter and her groom. We arose early in the morning, I and my wife, to clean the house to prepare for the wedding. We found nothing of the of the fine clothes, jewelry, or precious stones. There was nothing of all her clothing save only her dressing robe and her slippers. That was all my wealth, my goods, and my possessions, and now I do not know what to do or how to provide a dowry for my clothes less daughter.”

The wise judge instructed him, “Lead me to your house so that I can look around. Maybe we will find your lost things, maybe you will yet find your goods.” So he brought him unto his house, and he looked at the walls of the house, and, they were all high, that no thief might ascend the one side and descend to the other, except for one place where there was a breach in the wall, where grew a large orange tree. The tree was surrounded by a prickly bush. “’Who is your neighbor?” asked the judge. “Noble sir my neighbor is a cantor, a man just and upright, righteous in all his deeds and words. The judge turned here and there and then went upon his way. “Return to me at this time tomorrow,” instructed the judge, “I will look further into this matter.”

The next day he sent for the cantor, whose name was Paltiel ben Azan. He came and stood before him, and the judge gazed into his countenance and observed an indication that the man was not of good faith. The judge then brought him into the chamber and drew off his garments and said to him, “Will you take off your clothes and wrestle with me. For you see I had a dream last night where you and I were grappling each other, and I wish to find the interpretation of the dream. May the L-rd of peace be our aid. So, the cantor drew off his garments and the judge saw that his body was filled with scratches, bruises, and wounds. Just as he had assumed in his heart, so indeed it was for through that very place had he descended to commit the theft, being naked and without garments, in order that they might not be caught by the thorns which were around the tree.

“Then the judge said, “Return that which you have stolen, and the dowery of your neighbor’s daughter which you took. If you refuse, as your soul lives, I will afflict you with rods and with scorpions as a thief and a robber. Then was the cantor dismayed and frightened fell upon his face, he was ashamed to answer.

The dishonest evildoer returned everything he had taken, from a thread even to a shoelace. The father returned to the judge as he had been told, who then restored to him his daughter’s dowery. The man fell to the ground full length and kissed his hands and feet for his kindness and his truth, and said, “Blessed are you before the Holy One, blessed be He, for that your name is a fortress to the poor and a refuge to the humble.” He took all the goods and returned to his house joyful and glad at heart. It is well known that “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.” (Proverbs 21:15)

Upon the father’s return to his home, he ordered his daughter’s marriage to take place and his daughter was happy. As the groom met his bride under the canopy beneath the stars of the night sky he declared, “I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.” (Hosea 2:19)

Marvel at the understanding and wisdom of the judge for no secret was withheld from him.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

The Case of the Stolen Necklace

Posted on Wednesday, 29, January, 2020Friday, 28, March, 2025 by Rabbi

There was a Jewish merchant in Cordova named Yaakov haJoyero. He was honest and good to all he met. He studied the Holy Books and made time for prayer every day. One day, there was entrusted to him a necklace of fine gemstones and precious pearls to be sold for five hundred pieces of gold.

He was walking by the way, carrying the necklace in his hand, when he was met by a nobleman, who was one of the king’s favorites. The nobleman called to him: “Yaakov, what type of necklace is that?” He answered, “My lord, it is entrusted to my hand to be sold.”

“And for how much will you sell it for?” “The price is five hundred pieces of gold,” Yaakov replied.

The nobleman asked, “Will you sell it for four?” Yaakov answered, “I cannot, for its owner instructed me not to accept less than five hundred pieces of gold.”

The nobleman thought for a moment and then said, “Take it then to my house, and if it pleases my lady, I will buy it.” So, Yaakov haJoyero went with the nobleman until they reached the gate of his house. The nobleman instructed, “Stand here until I bring out to you either the money or the necklace.” The nobleman entered his house and shut the door behind him. Yaakov haJoyero waited until evening, but no one came out of the door of the house.

“When the sun set, Yaakov left the nobleman’s house and went to his home full of sadness and anger. Sorrow oppressed his heart and wounded it. He lay down on the ground and did not eat. No one in his family ate that night. He did not change his clothes, nor did he close his weary eyes. He tossed and turned all night.

In the morning, he arose and went to the nobleman’s house, but he had left his house for the day. He wandered the market, saw the nobleman, and ran to meet him.

Yaakov haJoyero confronted him and demanded, “My lord, buy the necklace if you will, or else return it, and I will sell it to another.” The nobleman answered, “Of what necklace do you speak? Have you by chance dreamt of such a necklace?” Yaakov said, “The necklace of fine gemstones and pearls which you took from my hand yesterday.”

“You are mad, afflicted with some evil spirit,” said the nobleman. “By my life and the life of the king, were I not noble born, I would take your head from your shoulders. Then I would trample in your blood.” When Yaakov heard the anger and hardness of the nobleman’s words, he became so fearful that he turned and ran away. The nobleman glared at him with anger and hatred until he disappeared from sight.

“He went to the house of the dayan (the judge), and when the dayan looked at him saw that sorrow had bitten into him with its fangs. He saw his appearance, and his face was dark because of his sadness.

The dayan addressed him, “What bothers you so much that you are so downcast? Have you been badly abused?” Yaakov replied, “My lord, I am in a very bad way. I am afraid to tell you about it out of fear that you might not believe what I have to tell.” The judge gently answered, “Take a deep breath and tell me what is bothering you. Your words are true in my sight as I know you to be honest and faithful in all you do.”

So Yaakov told the judge everything that had happened to him related to the necklace. He then asked that the judge be lenient with him. The judge reassured Yaakov, “Remove anger from your heart and put away your sadness. Don’t tremble nor groan from your pain, for I will restore the necklace to you.”

“And it came to pass on the next day that he summoned all the great men of the city, its elders, and wise men, and sages, to come to the place of judgment. For it was his practice to occasionally to gather the wise men and to speak with them of justice. So they all came to his house, to listen to the words of his understanding and his wisdom. But as they came the judge said to his servant: “When the nobleman comes, take his shoe and go to his house and say to his wife, ‘My lord, your husband sent me to you to retrieve the necklace which he bought yesterday or the day before because he would like to show others its great beauty. As a sign that this is his wish, he has given me his shoe to show you.’ “

When the woman saw her husband’s shoe she gave the necklace to the servant of the judge. He quickly brought it to his master and hid it in his coat until the wise men left the place of judgment. When they left, his master asked him, “Have you brought the necklace?” “’I have it in my coat,” he answered and gave it to the judge. Then the judge sent for Yaakov haJoyero and said to him, “Be calmed, and do not worry any longer, for I have returned to you the necklace. I have removed it from the nobleman’s house that which he had stolen.” When the merchant saw the necklace he kissed the judge’s hand and blessed him and carried it to his house joyful and glad at heart.

Sefer Sha’ashu’im – 12th Century Spain

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Judging Oneself and Others Favorably

Posted on Sunday, 25, August, 2019Wednesday, 7, February, 2024 by Rabbi

We speak and learn so much about religion, values, prayer and ritual, yet forget the important aspects of faith. To live by the standards established in the holy words of the T’NaCh (Scriptures). We should look upon all around us favorably and give them the benefit of the doubt.

The rabbis taught about two thousand years ago: “In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor… with justice you shall judge your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:15.) When you see a person doing what appears to be wrong, take a favorable view of his action.” (Shevu’os 30a)

Judging others favorably not only fulfills a religious requirement, it provides a number of benefits.

The Rambam (Rabbi Moses Maimonides c. 1135 – 1204) wrote a book which systematically discusses the 613 commandments of the Torah (Scriptures) in which he “stated that each person is required to judge others favorably …promotes peace and friendship and therefore, the purpose of this mitzvah (the mitzvah to judge righteously) is to improve society with a sense of righteousness and provide peace by removing suspicion of one to another. (Sefer HaChinuch no. 235)

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos directs that “One should judge all people favorably.” (Avos 1:6) Rabbeinu Yonah (d. 1263), in his commentary to Avos 1 :6, writes that we should assume that they realize their mistakes and are working on trying to improve themselves. This concept is often associated with the prohibition against accepting evil speech and gossip.

Once upon a time a religious man ransomed a beautiful woman from prison, and when they came to the inn in the evening, he put the young woman to sleep at the foot of his bed. In the morning he immersed himself in the purifying waters, and then he went to teach his students.

While he was teaching them he asked his students, “Did you suspect me of anything last night when you saw the young maiden lying at the foot of my bed?”

They answered, “We did not suspect you of anything; we thought that you put her near you because you had among your students one whom you did not know, and you would not let her sleep in a separate room for fear that harm might come to her.”

Then the religious man asked, “Why did you think I went in the morning and immersed in the purifying waters?”

“What else do you believe we could have thought,” replied his students, “except that probably on the way you had touched something unclean which made it necessary for you to immerse in the purifying waters?”

Then he said, “I swear that it was exactly as you thought. And as for you–as you judged me on the scale of merit, so may He who is everywhere judge you on the scale of merit

Based on B. Shabbos 127b and Ma’asah Book #21

We learn that Heaven never passes a decree upon a person before the person has himself passed judgment. If a person were asked outright what punishment he deserved for a particular sin, he would deny that he deserved any punishment at all. So instead, a person is shown another person sinning in the same way and is asked, somehow, to comment on the other’s action. Whatever he says the other deserves, then becomes his own punishment.

We find this happening with King David, who was visited by Nasan the Prophet. Nasan told him the parable of the poor man who had only one lamb. Only when King David became inflamed over the injustice did Nasan suddenly accuse him, telling David, “You are that man.” But David had already passed his own judgment. (II Samuel 12: 1-5)

This is why our Sages urged us to judge others favorably. When a person judges others in a good light, he is, in effect, passing a favorable judgment on himself!

We find this idea expressed in Psalms as well. “Deliver me from all my sins; do not make me a disgrace before the degenerate” (Psalm 39:9). King David asked Hashem to keep him from censuring unworthy people, lest he inadvertently pass judgment on himself.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Judging Oneself and Others Favorably

Posted on Monday, 11, February, 2019Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

We speak and learn so much about religion, values, prayer and ritual, yet forget the important aspects of faith. To live by the standards established in the holy words of the T’NaCh (Scriptures). We should look upon all around us favorably and give them the benefit of the doubt.

The Torah (Scriptures) directs us: “In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor… with justice you shall judge your neighbor. (Lev. 19:15.) When you see a person doing what appears to be wrong, take a favorable view of his action.” (Shevu’os 30a)

Judging others favorably not only fulfills a religious requirement, it provides a number of benefits.

The Rambam (Rabbi Moses Maimonides c. 1135 – 1204) wrote a book which systematically discusses the 613 commandments of the Torah (Scriptures) in which he “stated that each person is required to judge others favorably …promotes peace and friendship and therefore, the purpose of this mitzvah (the mitzvah to judge righteously) is to improve society with a sense of righteousness and provide peace by removing suspicion of one to another. (Sefer HaChinuch no. 235)

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos directs that “One should judge all people favorably.” (Avos 1:6) Rabbeinu Yonah (d. 1263), in his commentary to Avos 1 :6, writes that we should assume that they realize their mistakes and are working on trying to improve themselves. This concept is often associated with the prohibition against accepting evil speech and gossip.

Once upon a time a religious man ransomed a beautiful woman from prison, and when they came to the inn in the evening, he put the young woman to sleep at the foot of his bed. In the morning he immersed himself in the purifying waters, and then he went to teach his students.

While he was teaching them he asked his students,
“Did you suspect me of anything last night when you saw the young maiden lying at the foot of my bed?”

They answered, “We did not suspect you of anything; we thought that you put her near you because you had among your students one whom you did not know, and you would not let her sleep in a separate room for fear that harm might come to her.”

Then the religious man asked, “Why did you think I went in the morning and immersed in the purifying waters?”

“What else do you believe we could have thought,” replied his students, “except that probably on the way you had touched something unclean which made it necessary for you to immerse in the purifying waters?”

Then he said, “I swear that it was exactly as you thought. And as for you–as you judged me on the scale of merit, so may He who is everywhere judge you on the scale of merit

Based on B. Shabbos 127b and Ma’asah Book #21

We learn that Heaven never passes a decree upon a person before the person has himself passed judgment. If a person were asked outright what punishment he deserved for a particular sin, he would deny that he deserved any punishment at all. So instead, a person is shown another person sinning in the same way and is asked, somehow, to comment on the other’s action. Whatever he says the other deserves, then becomes his own punishment.

We find this happening with King David, who was visited by Nasan the Prophet. Nasan told him the parable of the poor man who had only one lamb. Only when King David became inflamed over the injustice did Nasan suddenly accuse him, telling David, “You are that man.” But David had already passed his own judgment. (II Samuel 12: 1-5)

This is why our Sages urged us to judge others favorably. When a person judges others in a good light, he is, in effect, passing a favorable judgment on himself!

We find this idea expressed in Psalms as well. “Deliver me from all my sins; do not make me a disgrace before the degenerate” (Psalm 39:9). King David asked Hashem to keep him from censuring unworthy people, lest he inadvertently pass judgment on himself.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others