Dec. 2, 2008 Melanie Phillips: The Mumbai atrocity is a wake-up call for a frighteningly unprepared world Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report: Strategic Motivations for the Mumbai Attack Dec. 1, 2008 Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings Mark Steyn: Whodunit!? Nov. 28, 2008 Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now? Nov. 26, 2008 Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership Andrea Simantov: Shades of life Nov. 25, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast! Nov. 24, 2008 Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!' Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends Nov. 21, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters? Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank Nov. 20, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto Nov, 19, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them? Nov, 18, 2008 Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster? Nov, 17, 2008 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit? Nov, 14, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead Nov, 13, 2008 Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla Nov, 12, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks Nov, 11, 2008 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad? Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate Nov, 10, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built? Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist Nov, 7, 2008 Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy Nov, 6, 2008 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes Nov, 5, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie Nov, 4, 2008 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East Nov, 3, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart? Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything? March 22, 2007 J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !) Oct. 29, 2003 Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Jan. 22, 2007 / 3 Shevat, 5767 When to do the “right thing” By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir Reproving wrongdoers http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Q: There are some street youths in my neighborhood who really create a nuisance. If everybody would stand up and insist that they behave it might have an effect, but sometimes I think it's safest just not to get involved. Don't wrongdoers have responsibility for their own acts? A: Fundamentally, Judaism instructs us to take responsibility for instructing others. The Torah commands us, "Surely reprove your fellow, and don't bear sin towards him" (Leviticus 19:17). Of course our sages emphasize that this commandment has to be fulfilled in a gentle and thoughtful manner — to improve, rather than to reprove. Maimonides writes, "You should reprove him in private, and speak to him gently and in a soft voice, explaining that you only intend for his own benefit". (1) And the Talmud tells us that when we refrain from doing so, we share in responsibility for wrongdoing: "Anyone who is able to protest the members of his household and doesn't protest, is liable for the members of his household; the people of his city, he is liable for the people of his city; the whole world, he is liable for the whole world." (2) This approach is based on two basic axioms of Judaism: first of all, we believe that human beings are basically good and susceptible of improvement. We don't believe that a wrongdoer is incorrigible or inherently wicked or antisocial. Scripture tells us that "G-d created man straight" (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Furthermore, we recognize that each person has responsibility for his fellow man's well being; thus, if we are able to help our fellow improve his ways we are responsible for doing so. The Talmud asserts that "All Israel are responsible for each other", (3), and the quote above shows that this responsibility extends ultimately to all mankind. But we also find many cases in which our sages advised us that a passive approach is the wisest. Sometimes it is wisest because reproof is counterproductive; it is first necessarily to establish friendly relations with someone before your advice has any impact. The Talmud tells the story of Rebbe Zeira who befriended the toughs of his neighborhood, instead of fighting them. Rebbe Zeira's colleagues were opposed to his approach, but in the end it was vindicated when they repented of their ways due to his heartfelt concern. (4) A similar story is told of the great sage Rebbe Meir, who wanted to oppose the bullies of his neighborhood but was persuaded by his wife to take a gentler approach. (5) This is really a corollary of the quote above. A person is responsible for others behavior only if he "is able to protest" in an effective way. In other cases a cautious approach is required because of danger. The Shulchan Aruch (comprehensive Code of Jewish Law) tells us: "Even though a person is obligated to reprove wrongdoers, and anyone who refrains from protesting shares responsibility for the sin, one is not obligated to suffer a loss for this. Therefore, it is customary to avoid protesting wrongdoers when we are afraid they may harm our selves or our possessions." (6) If you are able to politely approach some of these youngsters and explain your concern, then you should certainly do so. If you think that this will be counterproductive, you should do your best to maintain a pleasant demeanor and hope that you will be having a constructive influence. But if you are worried that any criticism on your part will expose you to hostility, then you are justified in refraining from acting alone. Perhaps there is a possibility of working within the framework of community groups, or through civil servants such as police, social workers, or youth counselors. SOURCES: (1) Maimonides' Code, Deos 6:7. (2) Babylonian Talmud, Shabbes 54b. (3) Babylonian Talmud, Shavuos 39a. (4) Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a (5) Babylonian Talmud, Berachos 10a. (6) Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 334:48 in Rema ARCHIVES Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here. JWR contributor Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, formerly of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Reagan administration, is Research Director of the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, Jerusalem College of Technology. To comment or pose a question, please click here. THE JEWISH ETHICIST, NOW IN BOOK FORM You've enjoyed his columns on JWR for years. Now the Jewish Ethicist has culled his most intriguing — and controversial — offerings in book form. HARDCOVER PAPERBACK Sales help fund JWR. © 2005, The Jewish Ethicist is produced by the JCT Center for Business Ethics