Do not rebuke a scoffer lest he come to hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you” (book of proverbs)
The Shaloh understands these words not as a description of two different kinds of personalities but as an instruction on how to rebuke anybody. When rebuking, don’t address the person as a scoffer, for then he will hate you and not listen. Rather, address him as a wise man and explain to him that his actions are not befitting someone like him. Tell him that he is greater than his actions. Stress his strengths more than his flaws and then he will love you and listen.
The Shaloh reminds us to set the bar high because high expectations become self-fulfilling prophecy (Google the Rosenthal effect for more)
In this week’s Torah portion Moshe begins by telling the Jews “You are holy because G-d is holy” Moshe is encouraging us to recognize our inherent greatness rather than settle for lives of mediocrity.
Don’t underestimate yourself. The only thing that holds us back is the limitations that we place on ourselves.
“The greatest tragedy” said Rabbi Aaron of Karlin, “is when the prince believes he is a peasant,” when you settle for less.
Each of us is a child of G-d, blessed with a soul that has infinite potential.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Benjy Silverman
PS See you on Sunday 11 am at the Torah Inauguration.
