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 esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a delivered at the third meal - Shabbat Parshat Matot-Masei.

"Why did Bar Kamtza go to the feast? After all, he knew that the host hated him. And indeed, Bar Kamtza himself 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 forgave his honor, but the moment Kamtza offended him, he said, 'Now I will destroy the Holy Temple.'"

"A person goes to make peace, he has already forgone his honor until he is offended. He was offended, now he goes to destroy the Holy Temple."