צדק צדק תרדף למען תחיה וירשת את הארץ אשר ה' אלקיך נתן לך ... (טז-כ)
How appropriate is it that we begin the month of Elul with Parshas Shoftim? Shoftim means judges, but it does not only refer to the judges in a courtroom. The preparation for the Day of Judgment is to learn how to be a good judge. Chazal teach us, “One who judges his friend favorably will be judged favorably in Heaven.’ Judging others favorably is truly the greatest gift we have to ensure ourselves a year of good health, happiness and simcha. In Pirkei Avos, we are taught not to judge another person until you are in his place. “In his place” means that you have his personality, his upbringing, his exact challenge and are completely in his place. This is impossible. Even identical twins, who are born and raised in the same family are not allowed to judge each other because nobody in the world can ever truly be in another person's place.
Sometimes we are so sure that we understand the person we are judging and we give ourselves a license to condemn, criticize and be judgmental. This leads to lashon hara and sinas chinam. In fact, the very foundation of bein adam lechavero begins in your mind, not in the actions of other people. If we judge people positively, we will have no issue getting along with others.
In Pirkei Avos, we also learn, “Hevei dan es kol HAADAM l’kaf zechus.” Judge the whole man favorably. Why does it say the “whole man”? The answer is that very often people make an assumption based on one action, one word, or even one facial expression that someone makes. They discount the WHOLE man because of one thing he did or said. The Mishnah is teaching us how to judge favorably by not being closed minded or short sighted. Don’t see the person in a negative light because of what they are wearing or what they did. Be smart. Understand that there is a WHOLE person, and a person is a WHOLE world.
Train yourself to say, “I am sure there is a reason for his action but I don’t know what it is.” Learn to NOT be judgmental of others, and you will receive the greatest gift in the world. Hashem will see only good in you and judge you favorably.
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