How do you typically react, or think the average person reacts, to criticism?
(ח) אַל־תּ֣וֹכַח לֵ֭ץ פֶּן־יִשְׂנָאֶ֑ךָּ הוֹכַ֥ח לְ֝חָכָ֗ם וְיֶאֱהָבֶֽךָּ ׃
(8) Do not rebuke a scoffer, for he will hate you; Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
וּמֵהֶן חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים הַנּוֹעֲלִים דַּרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה בִּפְנֵי עוֹשֵׂיהֶן. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן.
א) הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּר, לְפִי שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה לֹא יִהְיֶה עִמָּהֶן וְאֵינוֹ זוֹכֶה עִמָּהֶן בִּזְכוּת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין.
...
ה) וְהַשּׂוֹנֵא אֶת הַתּוֹכָחוֹת שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא הִנִּיחַ לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה. שֶׁהַתּוֹכָחָה גּוֹרֶמֶת לִתְשׁוּבָה שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁמּוֹדִיעִין לוֹ לָאָדָם חֲטָאָיו וּמַכְלִימִין אוֹתוֹ חוֹזֵר בִּתְשׁוּבָה ... וְכֵן כָּל הַנְּבִיאִים הוֹכִיחוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַד שֶׁחָזְרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לְהַעֲמִיד בְּכָל קָהָל וְקָהָל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל חָכָם גָּדוֹל וְזָקֵן וִירֵא שָׁמַיִם מִנְּעוּרָיו וְאָהוּב לָהֶם שֶׁיְּהֵא מוֹכִיחַ לָרַבִּים וּמַחֲזִירָן בִּתְשׁוּבָה, וְזֶה שֶּׁשּׂוֹנֵא אֶת הַתּוֹכָחוֹת אֵינוֹ בָּא לַמּוֹכִיחַ וְלֹא שׁוֹמֵעַ דְּבָרָיו לְפִיכָךְ יַעֲמֹד בְּחַטֹּאתָיו שֶׁהֵם בְּעֵינָיו טוֹבִים:
...Five behaviors block the way of Teshuvah for those who do them. They are:
(1) One who separates themself from the community, for they would be absent at the time the community repents and could not acquire anything in their virtuous performance;...
(5) One who despises criticism for they, left no path open for repentance, as it is criticism that begets repentance. Indeed, when a person is informed that their sins are known, and that they should be ashamed of themself for their wrongdoings, one does repent.... In like manner did all of the prophets criticize Israel until they turned in repentance. It is, therefore, necessary to appoint over each and every community in Israel a great scholar of mature age, God-fearing since early youth, and loved by them, people, to preach to the public and turn them to repentance. But one who despises criticism does not come to hear the preacher and does not pay attention to their words. They, therefore, hold on to their sins, which to their eyes appear to be good.
- What is the relationship between receiving criticism and doing Teshuvah?
- Who are the people in your life, the "wise old scholars", from whom you accept criticism?
תניא רבי אומר איזו היא דרך ישרה שיבור לו האדם יאהב את התוכחות שכל זמן שתוכחות בעולם נחת רוח באה לעולם טובה וברכה באין לעולם ורעה מסתלקת מן העולם
Rabbi Yehudah Ha'Nasi said: Which path is the straight one for a person to walk? One should love rebuke, since as long as there is rebuke in the world, there is ease of mind in the world, good and blessing comes to the world, and evil is removed from the world
- What does Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi think is the result of rebuke? Why?
- Do you agree?