LEV436 Greater is Torah than the cohen's realm and than royalty: for royalty is acquired with thirty attainments, and the cohen's realm with twenty-four, while the Torah is acquired by forty-eight things. And they are: [38] judges him favorably Pirkei Avot, Perek VI, mishnah 6. In its literal meaning, the Hebrew refers to the image of the scales of justice, with its two pans evenly balanced, one on either side. When someone is to be judged for something he has done, we imagine that every possible accusation against him is put on one pan, and every element in his favor on the other pan; then we see which pan goes lower, indicating it is heavier – – and accordingly we declare the person innocent or guilty, good or bad. Now suppose you have seen a neighbor doing something which, from one point of view is a misdeed, but in another respect may be a good act. In the figurative scales of justice that measure the deed, says our text, the scholar of Torah will see that pan bending lower which declares his neighbor innocent and worthy. "For him he makes the pan of merit weigh the more." He gives his fellow, fully and readily, the benefit of the doubt (in keeping with the teaching of R. Joshua b. P'rahyah in the first perek, mishnah 6). In fact, Scripture admonishes, "with righteousness shall you judge your neighbor"--which the Sages understand in this very sense. [this verse, Midrash Sifra ad loc. T.B. Shebu'oth 30a).