Yisro - Young Israel of Kendall
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Young Israel Of Kendall
Rabbi Becker's Message - February 10
YISRO DAY IN COURT The conflict raged. The parties could not come to terms. There was no option but to bring the matter to court. Each side was defiant. Each side was determined. Each side was banking on their position being solid, secure and supported. Each side was anxiously awaiting their day in court. The day arrived and after a difficult trial the verdict was announced. It was determined that the defendant owed money to the plaintiff. What kind of reaction could we expect? How would the defendant feel now that he was found to be liable? The Talmud relates: “There was this man who walked along saying: ‘One who leaves a court having had his coat removed (i.e. the court ruled against him, removing his coat as payment to his opponent) should sing a song as he goes on his way.’ He should be happy that wrongly acquired property was removed from his possession. Shmuel said to Rav Yehuda: This is written in a verse: “And also ‘all’ this nation shall arrive at their place in peace.”[1] This sentence was written regarding the court that Moshe held. The use of the word, ‘all’, reveals that the feeling of satisfaction and love was shared by all parties involved. [2] Everyone who left, even those who had lost, went in peace.[3] How could this be accomplished? Not only was there a ruling that one party must pay, it even demanded that he lose his coat. Acceptance of a verdict is one thing. Not bearing a grudge is another. But happy? How can that be? It states: “Thus said the Lord…the fast of the 4th, and the fast of the 5th, and the fast of the 7th and the fast of the 10th, will be for the house of Judah a time of joy and happiness and celebration, and the truth and peace they love.”[4] The numbers refer to the Hebrew months of the year. The prophet foretold that the days of fasting: The 17th of Tamuz, Tisha B’Av, Tzom Gedalya and The 10th of Teves, would one day be transformed to days of joy – with the redemption of our people and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, there was a pre-condition that had to be met: people would love truth and peace.[5] This condition had been stipulated earlier: “These are the things that you should do: speak the truth, care for one another, and let truth, justice and peace, be adjudicated within your gates.”[6] If someone seeks peace, he can leave the courtroom happy. He didn’t lose the case. He found truth and peace. Is our objective in conflict resolution uncovering the truth and achieving peace? Are we happy when truth and justice prevail? Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hershel D. Becker
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