<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"></span>C</span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">haim Baruch</span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> Kaufman </span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">challenged the assertion that </span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"></span>w<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">e are only</span> command<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">ed</span> to admonish our fellow Jew, </span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">but we are </span>not<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> commanded</span> to bring</span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> about his or her repentance<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">His challenge appears to be supported by the RaMBaM,</span></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> DeOs 6:7</span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">Mitzvah LeHachZiro LeMutav - the command is to restore him to good</span></span></div><div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">a *mitzvah* </span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">to correct the sinner's behavior<span class="gmail_default"> ...</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default">does Mitzvah not mean we are commanded?</span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">It makes no sense to be commanded to do that which is beyond our ken.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">So we are not considered failures and suffer consequences for what we cannot do.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">[although the RaMBaM does rule that whoever can but does not admonish, is held accountable - (I have no idea who it is that cannot admonish)]</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">However, we ARE commanded to continue </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">as per </span></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">RaMBaM</span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"></span> DeOs 6:7<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> </span><span class="gmail_default"> </span> </span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">"If he accepts the admonition, that is great, but if not, one must continue [incessantly] until the sinner strikes him </span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">and says, "I am not listening to you"</span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">This suggests the admonisher is getting through to the sinner</span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">and irritating the sinner to the point where the sinner not only says, "I am not listening"</span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">but actually strikes [some suggest is ready to strike] </span></div><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> </span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">This appears to be enshrined in the RaMBaM identifying the source</span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">[Leviticus 19:17] "You shall surely admonish your colleague."</span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> </span></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="gmail_default" style="">It would seem that the emphasised "Rebuke Rebuke = SURELY rebuke"</span> </font></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="gmail_default" style="">which our Sages interpret to mean, 'even a thousand times' </span></font></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4">and suggests that the duty is to continue until the sinner repents.</font></span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4"><br></font></span></div></div></div>