It is one thing for you to tell a lie. It is another to cause others to tell lies because of you. Telushkin gives an interesting example. If two people are whispering in your presence, then it can be assumed they don’t want you to hear what they are discussing. If you ask them, they will probably tell you a lie - you are causing them to lie. Curiosity is one thing - it drives discovery - but we must all be aware of when being curious is appropriate and when it will simply lead us to cause harm to others. An interesting idea to consider.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Be Fair To Your Enemy
I find this a very powerful teaching, even if he doesn't spend a lot of time with it. The Book of Proverbs teaches, “If your enemy is hungry - give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” (25:21). As he notes at the end, we are not commanded to love our enemies, but we are commanded to be fair to them.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Untamed Anger and the Death of Love
The only time that romantic love is referenced from a woman’s point of view is the love between Michal and David. Unfortunately, theirs was a childless, angry marriage. When David conquered Jerusalem and brought the Tabernacle to the city, he danced in the streets with the people. Michal thought this an undignified way for a king to behave, and told David as much. Rather than taking a breath, he responded that he was the man who had conquered Jerusalem, unlike her father. Her father (and brothers) had been recently killed while battling the Philistines. Telushkin says that the next comment in the Torah is that Michal remained childless throughout her marriage to David.
Anger between people is normal. How we respond to our anger makes all the difference. David and Michal’s marriage was based on mean spirited arguments (according to Telushkin) - this is a sure way to sour a relationship, even one that began in love. Be careful how you treat the other - the theme continues to ring true.
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