Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 9/24/2015, 2:34 PM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
Adapted from "Mussar Avos"
The Mishna says, "and you should judge every man favorably".
Rabbi Avraham MiSlonim, explains that we very often make mistakes ourselves and we always attempt to find excuses or reasons why. It could be that we were tired, in a rush, or just having a bad day and therefore we did X, Y or Z. This same attitude should be applied when we judge others as well. When a spouse, child, parent, friend or a stranger on the street says or does something that bothers you, think to yourself maybe they too were just tired, in a rush or having a bad day. If it is a good enough excuse for yourself then it is a good enough excuse for your fellow man as well.
An interesting insight that I heard in the name of Rabbi Avigdor Nevenzhal ( Chief Rabbi of the Old City Jerusalem), is that this statement in Pirkei Avos is a directive "after the fact". What this means is that if you judge someone, then you should judge them favorably, but ideally you shouldn't judge anyone at all : )