Seeing the Good in a JewSeeing the Good in a JewSeeing the Good in a Jew

I am told that I should see the good in every Jew, but I don't understand. After all, won't the Creator burn this wicked person in hell and subject him to other types of punishments? And from me He demands to be more compassionate than Himself. This doesn’t sound logical at all!

Dear …!<br>The answer can be divided into two parts:<br>A. There is the matter of the point of choice, as explained at length by Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler. As long as a person has different inclinations and various challenges, he is required to advance beyond the challenge he started with. For example, for someone who was born secular and never received a religious education, and moreover, grew up amidst a gang of murderers and robbers, the trial is not whether to rob or not to rob, but rather, if a robbery goes wrong, should he kill the victim or spare his life and take the risk of being turned in to the authorities. Even this trial requires immense strength of character. If he passes this test, he advances and faces another trial, such as whether to rob a poor person or only the rich, and so on. It is possible that a criminal whom we would be pleased to see behind bars is undergoing difficult trials and is drawing closer to the Creator, becoming significantly stronger, despite still transgressing severe prohibitions.<br><br>On the other hand, a Torah scholar's trial is whether he will study superficially or delve deep into his studies, and this is his point of choice. The only one who knows the truth is the Creator, Who examines hearts and minds. Therefore, we might encounter sins apparently committed by great individuals, but the Creator knows that these stories reveal great strengths of character. Conversely, we find people who commit seemingly minor transgressions but are accused and punished very severely, even losing very significant things and positions.<br><br>B. In every Jew, there is an internal good point, as it is said, "None will be pushed away" (II Samuel 14:14). Therefore, even a wicked Jew will be punished in the fires of hell for only twelve months, and after purification, he will merit reaching the Garden of Eden and enjoying the eternal good — a great pleasure that no person can attain or imagine. While the punishment is limited to only twelve months, the reward is eternal, forever and ever. It is not a million years or even a trillion; it is forever.<br><br>Indeed, there are wicked individuals who receive harsher punishments, but they are undoubtedly in a category “those that hate you, Hashem, I shall hate”, and we are not obligated to judge them favorably.

Michtav Me-Eliyahu (Vol. 3, p. 87; Vol. 4, pp. 271-281).