[Avodah] Revenge and Punishment

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 11:09:35PM +0200, Daniel Eidensohn wrote:
: *Yoma^] (23a): *Any scholar who does not avenge himself and bear grudge 
: like a snake is not a real talmid chachom. But doesn't the Torah 
: (Vayikra 19:18) prohibit bearing grudges or taking revenge? ...

As you cite the Minchas Chinukh quoting Hil Dei'os 7:7, this is for
public humiliation, and has to do with defending HQBH's honor, not
"revenge". See the Kesef Mishnah ad loc, who ties the berabbim to
this explanation.

As I wrote, neqamah is a broader concept than revenge.

The rishonim discuss this gemara by contrast to Megillah 28a, where Mar
Zutera forgives everyone who wronged him before going to sleep.

The Maharsha says as the gemara here explains Rava's position -- this is
only those who asked Mar Zutera for mechilah.

The Ritva finds this problematic, as Mar Zutera was chayav to forgive
them immediately when they asked. He writes similarly to the Rambam,
that the gemara here is speaking of slights to him as a representative
of Torah. Mar Zutera forgave personal slights.

Then there is Shabbos 88b:
    hane'elavim ve'einam olvin
    shom'in cherpasan ve'einan meishivin
    osin mei'ahavah usemeichin beyisurin
    aleihen hakasuv omeir,
	"ve'ohavav ketzeis hashemesh bigvuraso"!

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
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