Below
is teaching of Chaplain (Rabbi to be) Adam Ruditsky in conjunction with the
book Preparing for the High Holidays
.
רפואה
מן התורה
Deliver
me not over until the will of my enemies, for false witnesses have risen up
against me and this who breath violence (Ps.
27:12)
There are many ways we can go with
the above in terms of enemies. Sure, it
can be a foe, but it can be a temptation, sickness or even self. But it can also be society. In other words, just because others may step
over people to get ahead, or sue a neighbor who has a tree with its branches hanging over a fence so leaves fall into the yard, right or wrong, the behavior of "payback" is just not right. Our tradition looks poorly upon the
abuse of others who are weaker like widows and strangers, but also the more
powerful over another in terms money and resources. This is why Pirkei Avot asks, who is wise;
who is rich, who is powerful and who is honorable? (Avot 4:1ff). The one who is wise is humble and learns from
all people; the one who whose rich is content with what they have; the one who
is strong has self-control over how they act and the one is honorable gives others
honor before or equal to self. We need
to define an enemy as one, or what, impacts the inward battle of growth and pursuits for out desired higher norms of behavior.
Fighting an enemy you can see is one thing, fighting the enemy you cannot, that is a very different kind of battle.
How does the weapon of forgiveness
operate in your own battles?
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