Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Hitting 'em where it hurts*

If you say that the chazzan can't learn, and the rabbi can't sing, then you're speaking lashon hora.
But if you say that the chazzan can't sing, and the rabbi can't learn...then you are committing murder.
- Reb Yisroel Lipkin of Salant
What a powerful lesson!

When we denigrate someone in general, that person may or may not be able to just shrug it off. But if we attack what characterizes them, what they put their efforts into and the strengths they pride themselves in having, we're engaging in utter cruelty.

Validating others is so important, especially when it comes to acknowledging their abilities in their chosen field...

* inspired by a post on Neil Harris' blog

2 comments:

micha berger said...

I had always taken it to be murder of those who you are robbing of a leader and role model, not murder of the people themselves. Interesting to rethink...

-micha

Anonymous said...

If the rabbi actually can't learn, what should his community do for its own benefit?