Nicklesburg Encounter

that is what Hashem wants of us. There is only one real judge in this world and that is Hashem. He has all the facts. We don’t. We only see outwardly, but never truly know the whole story. Therefore, we have no license to judge other people’s actions. Instead we are advised by our Sages to judge people favorably and to give them the benefit of the doubt. Not an easy perspective to live by. Its a life’s work. Admittedly it can be very challenging at times.

I was fortunate to learn this lesson, clearly, first hand. Thankful to Hashem that he allowed me the experience in real time.

So here I was one morning davening in Nikelsburg. The חזן was holding right before ברכו, when a young man whom I recognized, took a seat right in front of me. He hastily put on his Tallis and Tefillin and tried to catch up to the Minyin, fast track. Before davening was over, he was already unraveling his Tefillin and putting his Tallis away. He recognized me and perceived that I was amazed by his quick dialog with Hashem. Last in and first out? Somewhat ashamed he turned to me and said, I know my conduct  appears strange. Want you to know that my wife is sick in the hospital. I just managed to run away for a few minutes in order to catch a ברכו and קדושה, under very trying circumstances.

Wow, here was a Jew who strained himself to come to Shul that morning with absolute מסירת נפש. He could have taken the easy way out and daven by the כותל in his room. Instead he put forth tremendous effort to come to shul for as long as possible. Who was I to judge? How easy it would have been to misjudge. You never know the whole story. Even after you think you do, you probably don’t. How wonderful life would be for all of us, if we could only train ourselves not to be judgemental. To give other people the benefit of the doubt, as we would like those people to do for us.