I know, I know...I already posted a d'var Torah for this week's Torah portion! But after all, we did have a double portion, and Rabbi Mel Glazer at Temple Shalom (Colorado Springs) offered some interesting thoughts that resonated with me. So, beshem omro, let me offer them here...
In Parashat Kedoshim, Leviticus 19.16-17, we're told not to be a gossipmonger among our people lest we stand aside while another's blood is shed. (The reference is that destroying a person's reputation by gossiping about them is akin to stealing their good name, which in turn is almost like murdering them.) The Torah then tells us that we must rebuke our fellow. The word rebuke is stated twice, hoche'ach toche'ach. The traditional rabbinic answer as to why the word is repeated, and understand that traditionally every jot and tittle in Torah is considered to be pregnant with meaning, is to give the meaning "you will surely rebuke." But Rabbi Glazer offered two alternative explainations.
The first possibility: the first "rebuke" is private and the second, done only if the first fails, is in public. In other words, when correcting your fellow, you should first do so without publicly shaming him or her. Only if the behavior worthy of rebuke persists, should you issue a public rebuke.
But I liked the second possibility even better. The first rebuke is for one's self, the second one for one's fellow. In other words, before even thinking about challenging your fellow because of some behavior, one should "rebuke one's self by examining their motive and why the behavior in question is irritating them so. If one pauses to do such a self-examination, perhaps you won't in the end rebuke your fellow at all, because they did not need to be rebuked.
Wise insights into the text of the Torah, and keen insights to help us to live in peace with one another!
A good week, everybody!
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