2

I heard a person say that if you have hate towards a person in your heart you have to tell them about this because it's forbidden to keep those thoughts in your heart.

Is this like if you feel rejected by the other person or like only if they said something bad about you or for other things like if you have suspicions about the person that maybe they might be speaking about you behind your back you and you should talk to them about this? Or for literally every little thing?

What is the source of this and to what extent is this talking about?

4
  • 2
    See Rashi to Bereishis 37:4
    – shmosel
    Commented Sep 3 at 7:16
  • Thank you @shmosel
    – David
    Commented Sep 3 at 7:21
  • Rashi is apologetic and tries only to minimize their fault. Hating a Jew is Biblical prohibition and one should not brag about it. Compare: if one has heretical thoughts should he spell them out?
    – Al Berko
    Commented Sep 3 at 11:49
  • We do have, however, a guiding principle of "משנים מפני דרכי שלום" - "altering [truth] to promote peace", so whatever you say must aim at promoting peace and fellowship.
    – Al Berko
    Commented Sep 3 at 11:52

1 Answer 1

5

Rambam in Hilchos Deos 6 (6&7) says:

6] When one person wrongs another, the latter should not remain silent and despise him as [II Samuel 13:22] states concerning the wicked: "And Avshalom did not speak to Amnon neither good, nor bad for Avshalom hated Amnon." Rather, he is commanded to make the matter known and ask him: "Why did you do this to me?", "Why did you wrong me regarding that matter?" as [Leviticus 19:17] states: "You shall surely admonish your colleague." If, afterwards, [the person who committed the wrong] asks [his colleague] to forgive him, he must do so. A person should not be cruel when forgiving [as implied by Genesis 20:17]: "And Abraham prayed to God..."

7] It is a mitzvah for a person who sees that his fellow Jew has sinned or is following an improper path [to attempt] to correct his behavior and to inform him that he is causing himself a loss by his evil deeds as [Leviticus 19:17] states: "You shall surely admonish your colleague." A person who rebukes a colleague - whether because of a [wrong committed] against him or because of a matter between his colleague and God - should rebuke him privately. He should speak to him patiently and gently, informing him that he is only making these statements for his colleague's own welfare, to allow him to merit the life of the world to come. If he accepts [the rebuke], it is good; if not, he should rebuke him a second and third time. Indeed, one is obligated to rebuke a colleague who does wrong until the latter strikes him and tells him: "I will not listen." Whoever has the possibility of rebuking [sinners] and fails to do so is considered responsible for that sin, for he had the opportunity to rebuke the [sinners].

The commandment seems to be speaking about a case where the hate came about either because the hater has been wronged or because the other person has sinned or is following an improper path. Then it is right to rebuke the other person and not to keep the hate in his heart.

You ask “what extent is this talking about.” The Rambam does not seem to define this. If the wrong is sufficient to have generated hate, it seems that the mitzva to rebuke will apply.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .