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Jewish World Review
March 27, 2008
/ 21 Adar II 5768
No-goodniks
By
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
What the kosher laws tell us about how to treat 'lost causes'
“This is what you shall not eat . . . the camel . . . but its hoof is not split . . . the
hyrax . . . its hoof will not split . . . the hare . . . its hoof was not split.”
— Lev. 11:4-6
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
This portion of the Torah enumerates the kosher and non-kosher animals. In
the English-language translation of the Hebrew Bible, all of the three above verses are translated
as ''its hoof is not split.'' However, in the Hebrew, three tenses are used:
''is not split, will not split, was not split.'' This cannot be without significance.
Although the Torah is speaking about the non-kosher animals which we must reject,
there is a message for us regarding our relationship with people, said Rabbi Yisroel of
Salant.
We can reject something only if there is no hope whatsoever of any redemption.
As objectionable as a person's present behavior may be, if he had a respectable
heritage, i.e., family roots of decent people, we should realize that he undoubtedly has a nucleus of fine character traits within him, which can be unearthed and
nurtured.
Even if one lacks such a heritage, there is always the possibility that one
may change in the future. There are countless instances of people who have made
major lifestyle changes, even late in their lives. Rejection can be justified only if
there is no redeeming feature either in the past, present or future.
Since such criteria can never be met, there are no grounds for ever rejecting anyone.
There are times, or course, when a person's improper behavior warrants a
modicum of rejection, but even then the rejection should not be absolute. The
Talmud is critical even of the prophet Elisha for totally rejecting his errant servant,
Gehazi. If distancing someone is called for, ''One should always push aside with the
left (i.e., weaker) hand and attract with the right (i.e., stronger) hand'' (Sotah 16a).
The force of attraction should exceed the force of rejection.
Rabbi Yisroel of Salant was the father of the Mussar movement, which calls for highly
ethical behavior. Yet he states that although we must denounce improper behavior,
we should always look for redeeming features that will enable us to salvage even
the most sinful person.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. is a psychiatrist and ordained rabbi. He is the
founder of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, a leading center
for addiction treatment. An Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University
of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, he is a prolific author, with some 30 books to
his credit, including, "Twerski on Chumash" (Bible), from which this was excerpted (Sales of this book help fund JWR).
© 2007, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
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