Venue: YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Gemara:

Shabbat 

Halacha:

Bein Adam l'Chaveiro 

Machshava:

Ethics 

Mishna:

Avot 

Collections: R' Berzon The obligation to judge the other favorably

Description

The obligation to judge the other favorably is formulated in the Mishna in Avos as well as in Shavuot. In one case it is formulated as לכל אדם, in another as חבירו. The Rambam seems to contradict himself: in Sefer HaMitzvos he presents this obligation as binding on everyone, whereas in Hilchos De'os he codifies a singular obligation incumbent upon a Talmid Chacham. He further contradicts himself in his commentarty on the Mishna in Avot. Innitiall he considers this as a full-fledged obligation, but at the end of his presentation he describes it as a מידת חסידות. We will study the Chofetz Chaim's original idea which will reconcile all these contradictions. We will further examine R' Yona's 4 categories of individuals & how we must judge them.