Not Judging
Do not judge your fellow until you have been in that person's position.
-Pirkei Avot 2:5
Commentary: It is easy to criticize others when we haven't been
faced with the problems and challenges that they have. However, the consequences
of doing so can be disastrous for society. It is said in the Talmud (Baba
Metzia 30b) that Jerusalem was destroyed because people judged according
to the law too strictly and did not go beyond the law. One of the interpretations
of this is that people were too critical of one another and didn't give
each other enough slack. This led to that sad situation of Jews hating other
Jews, and, as a result, the Temple, Jerusalem, and the country were lost.
