DEUT1228 The Midrash comments that the words "a time for hating" (Ecclesiastes 3:8) refer to "the time when a war is being fought" (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 3:8). The implication of both the biblical verse and the midrashic comment is that when the war is over, the hatred should end. As Winston Churchill said, "I oppose the pacifists during the war, and the jingoists after the war." This is consistent with what was noted earlier; after the Exodus from Egypt--but not during the time Jews were enslaved there-- Jews were instructed not to hate Egypt [this verse].

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1225 See [[EXOD26]] Exodus 1:22 throw TELVOL2 265

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1229 R. Yossi opened [his discourse] in honor of the host, expounding: Now if of the Egyptians, who befriended Israel for mercenary motives only, as it is written (Genesis 47:6): "And if you know of capable men among them, then make them overseers of my cattle" -- Scripture writes: "You shall not despise an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in his land" -- then one who is host to a Torah scholar, and feeds him, and gives him to drink, and treats him of his possessions -- how much more so! (Berachoth 63b)

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1230 Do not refrain from marrying the third generation of an Edomite convert. Do not shun the descendants of Esav, for their subjugation of us, as the Egyptian enslavement, is a decree from Heaven. Therefore, we are forbidden to hate them for what they do to us. If they convert to our faith, we regard them as our brothers and eventually their descendants can marry as any other Jew. By contrast, the men of Amon and Moav are forever forbidden to marry Jewish women, for although they caused us suffering only once, their deed revealed the repulsive degree of inhumanity, as explained earlier [Deuteronomy 23:4 congregation CHINUCH 359-60].

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1231 See [[EXOD549]] Exodus 21:14 neighbor SPERO 126-30

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1232 Gratitude for what others have done was indicative of the health of the soul. The Rabbis expressed this in a proverb: "Into the well from which you have drunk, throw no stones". (B.K. 92b) Does not scripture tell us not to despise the Egyptian "because thou wast a stranger in his land"? [this verse]. It is imperative that we ourselves do not suffer from the defects of which we complain in another. (B. Metz. 107b; B.B. 60b: ["Rabbi Natan used to say: Whatever defect is in you, do not call your fellow"] -- Is it not ridiculous when the pot calls the kettle black? We must take care to speak about a thing only when we know it for certain; at no time must you repeat anything about another, especially if it be derogatory to him and of which the truth is doubtful. (Yeb. 65b).

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1233 Rava asked Rabbah b. Mari: Whence is derived the folk-expression: "Cast no aspersions on the well from which you have drunk"? From: "You shall not despise an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in his land" (Bava Kamma 92b)

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1234 See [[EXOD893]] Exodus 23:19 boil TELVOL2 303

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1235 R. Shimon says: The Egyptians, who drowned Israel in the Nile, and the Edomites, who went out against Israel with the sword, were forbidden by Scripture only until the third generation, whereas the Amonites and Moavites, who took counsel to make Israel sin, were forbidden by Scripture forever -- to teach that one who causes another to sin is worse than one who kills him; for one who kills him removes him only from this world, whereas one who causes him to sin removes him even from the next world (Sifrei)

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUT1236 "Do not despise your brother in your heart" (Leviticus 19:17). Thinking evil was considered transgression even when it was not accompanied by specific plans or intent to act out the thought. This is seen in the following passages: "When thou goest forth in the camp… then thou shall keep thee from every evil [davar ra, lit. [this verse, Ketubbot 46a], "words" or "thought"]. "And ye shall not go about after your own heart and after your own eyes, after which you used to go astray" (Numbers 15:39). "There are six things which the Lord hateth ... a heart that deviseth wicked thoughts" (Proverbs 6:16, 18).

SHOW FULL EXCERPT