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LEVITICUS | 19:15 judge — LEV447 "In righteousness shall you judge your nei...

LEV447 "In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor" This verse obligates us to give someone the benefit of the doubt when we see him performing an action that could be interpreted in his favor (Rambam, Sefer Hamitzvos, Positive Precept 177). If an average mitzvah observer does or says something and the chances of a favorable judgment and unfavorable judgment are equal, we must grant him a favorable judgment. If the person in question is a God fearing man, we must judge him favorably even if the unfavorable side outweighs the favorable one. If you assume that this person's action was improper and you relate it in that manner to others, besides violating the prohibition of loshon hora, you also violate this commandment. Often, a narrative may consist of entirely true facts, but because the action or words referred to were taken out of context, a completely distorted picture is conveyed. Also, many things are said or done in anger that under normal circumstances would not have been said or done. It is unfair to judge such incidents without taking the circumstances into consideration.

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Source KeyPGYT
Verse19:15
Keyword(s)judge
Source Page(s)22
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