Day 45 - From Hatred to Love and Harmony (Orchos Tzaddikim | Hatred 2)
00:00 - Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe (Host)
Welcome back, everybody, to day number 45. We're on page 264 in the Treasure for Life edition of the Orchos Tzaddikim of the Ways of the Righteous, and we were talking previously about hatred, but here the author is telling us that the worst of hatred and the severity of hatred is is the hatred that people have for those who reprimand and chastise them in order to direct them in the right path. As it is written, they hated the reprimander in the gate. So if they don't appreciate the reprimand, they don't appreciate the constructive criticism that could also be the responsible of the one who's giving the criticism, the mochiach, because perhaps he's not doing it with the right words or with the right sensitivity or with the right care and concern. That's part of the obligation, as the Talmud in Yuvamus tells us, that. 65b, where the Talmud says that just like there's a mitzvah to reprimand one who will listen, there's a mitzvah not to reprimand one who will not listen. It's a mitzvah not to. There's an even worse type of hatred, which is even more evil, where people have a hatred to those who do good and those who pursue righteousness and those who give charity and those who give charity.
01:42
Ki inyon shenemar yisdanuni tachas, rodfi tov, rodfei tov. They hate me because I pursue good. Ve'ahochim bederech zu hemsonim es Hashem. Those who hate these types of people are actually hating God. Ki hemsonim es o'avav, because they hate the lovers of Hashem. Ve'heimsonim ha-Torah v because they hate the lovers of Hashem and they're hating the Torah, the commandments, and they're hating the mitzvahs because they're disgusted, they despise and they hate those who fulfill the mitzvahs. The wise one which is King Solomon, always. You want someone to hate you who fulfill the mitzvahs. Amar HaChacham, the wise one which is King Solomon always. Im tir tzeh shi yisnoach hachavercho bakrei hutamid. You want someone to hate you. Visit him, but more criticize him, chastise him regularly. If he wanted to love you, visit him or chastise him infrequently. Concerning this, it is written make your foot dear or rear in your neighbor's house lest he be satiated with you and hate you. They'll overstay their welcome and are not going to be loved because of it. With Tzaraq Shatedan, you need to know Kimi she yisna abne adam, one who hates other mankind, gam heim yisnu hu. They'll also hate him. Ve ha-magbir ha-sinu bil-libo hu mey vi'es al atzmoron.
03:22
One who has increasing hatred in his heart is only bringing evil to himself. Kish yeish ava sholol deshem sh'mayim. When there is love which is not for the sake of heaven, toshuv l'sinu g'dol avikino Then what will happen is it turns into great hatred and jealousy. As it is written in reference to Amnon, and Amnon despised her with a great hatred. His hatred for her was even greater than the love that he'd had for her. When the love turns into hatred, it goes off the rails. It goes off the rails.
04:04
Do not trust the counsel of a hater or an enemy. As it is written, excessive are the kisses of a foe. You should just know that there are many who show love in their words, though they may be full-fledged haters in their hearts. This is classic. One of the categories of people that the Talmud tells us that will never see the face of the presence of Hashem are those who are flatterers, which is one by mouth and other, and then they have different thoughts in their heart and they're totally hating in their heart. Be careful not to listen to a word they say. With his lips, the hater hides his hatred, yet in the inner self he stores up deceit. Although he smooths over his tongue and talks gently to you, do not incline your heart towards him. Be careful, these people are dangerous, as it is written. When he makes his voice ingratiating, do not believe him, because there are seven abominations in his heart.
05:45
Just as Yoav showed Avner ben Er, amasa ben Yasser peace and love until he killed them, and as Yishmael ben Nesanya did to Gedalia ben Achikam until he killed him, so we see this. One of the sages said the best tactic to take against your foe is to show him love if you are able. Hatov shebechol ma shetachshov al son echa shetishivehu al ahavoscho imtucha. Just sheer love, love, love. That's the trait of the Jewish people. Yesh sinashi mitzvah.
06:22
However, there is a hatred which is actually a mitzvah K'gon lisno odom rosh ha'she'enu mikabot ohecha To hate an evil person who does not accept the reprimand, mitzvah lisno. So it's a mitzvah to hate him. She'nem yiras Hashem sonos, the fear of Hashem. If it is fear of Hashem to hate evil, snos ra Ve'omer. And additionally it says Halo, misanecho Hashem, esno, miskomamecho eskotat. Do I not hate those who hate you, hashem, and dispute those who rise up against you? Tach le-sino, sineiso le-oyevim hoyu li. I have hated them with the ultimate hatred. They have become my foes. V'yisno sheker, u'dvar kozav.
07:14
And a person also should hate falsehood and deceit. It shouldn't just be. Well, you know, okay, it wasn't exactly the truth. No, no, no. Have a hatred, a total hatred, for falsehood.
07:26
Sov dovar, at the end of the day, yisno kol davar amarchikoso, anything that brings you or distances you from the Almighty v'hamon o me'avas yotzer kol, and doesn't allow you to have proper love of your Creator, ki'in yishnemar kol orach sheker sinesi, as it is written. I have hated every false path. V'zeh k'lal godon, as it is written. I have hated every false path. This is a very great principle.
07:58
A person should hate all the ways of falsehood, all manners of falsehood, and the more he hates the ways of falsehood and the more he hates the ways of falsehood, the more he will love Torah, as it is written. And I have hated and despised falsehood. Your Torah I love. So the more a person distances himself from falsehood, from Sheker, the more he will come close to Torah. V'yoav emes v'sholom, he will come to love love, truth and love peace, as it is written v'yoav emes v'sholom e'havo. And love, truth and peace, as it says written, ve'al emes ve'hashalom ehovo. And love, truth and peace, as it says in Zechariah 8, verse 19. My dear friends, this concludes day number 45 and the chapter of hatred. Hashem should bless us all, that we should all merit to never experience any form of hatred in our heart for anybody, for any human being. On the contrary, to open up our hearts with love for every person, for every creation of Hashem, and to only find good in other people, to inspire people to do good and to only see the positive in every person. Amen.
