Terrible and Awe-Inspiring: How Much We Must Be Careful with the Honor of Others
"A Person Was Offended and He Goes to Destroy the Holy Temple" - Words of the Esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a
Words of the holy Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, delivered at Seudah Shlishit - Shabbat Kodesh Matot-Masei.
"Why did Bar Kamtza go to the feast? After all, he knew that the host hated him. And he himself, Bar Kamtza, hated the host with a mortal hatred, so why did he go to the banquet?"
"The Maharsha says that Bar Kamtza actually wanted to make peace; he said, 'I am willing to forgo my honor,' he was a tzaddik."
"Bar Kamtza gave up his honor, but the moment he was insulted, he said, 'Now I will destroy the Holy Temple.'"
"A person goes to make peace, he has already given up his honor until they insult him. They insulted him, and now he goes to destroy the Holy Temple."
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