Q&A: Do not judge your fellow until you reach his place.
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Do not judge your fellow until you reach his place.
Question
Judging can also mean judging favorably. So then what’s the problem?
Answer
Simply speaking, the intent is judging unfavorably. Although even judging favorably is not really appropriate; it’s just that the consequences there are less problematic. I also applied this to halakhic rulings in situations that are far removed from my own experience. See column 699.
Much appreciated. So basically, we don’t really have the right to judge for good or for bad until we step into the other person’s shoes. The question is also prompted by: “Judge every person favorably.” (There’s nothing like Pirkei Avot. Tractate Derekh Eretz ought to be read aloud.)