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.
Once upon a time, a religious man ransomed a beautiful woman from imprisonment, 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.
We learn “You shall not unjustly judge… with justice you shall judge your neighbor..” (Lev. 19:15). The classic commentators explain this to mean “judge your fellowman favorably and interpret his actions and words only to the good.” (Sefer HaChinuch 235)
Based on B. Shabbos 127b and Ma’asah Book #21
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)