Chapter I
Likkutei Sichos Volume 27, Pages 164 - 166
Chapter 1, Mishnah 6: Yehoshua ben Perachia and Nitai Ho'arbeili received from them. Yehoshua ben Perachia would say, "Assume a master for yourself, acquire a friend for yourself, and judge every man favorably."
The Simple Explanation
Our Mishnah quotes three teachings from Yehoshua ben Perachia. We will focus on the third teaching, to "judge every man favorably." Some commentaries explain this in the following manner.
Suppose that one performed an action that can be described in two possible ways. It is possible to assume that he did something improper. However, one can also interpret his actions as having been good. The Mishnah is teaching us that in this instance, a "Chossid," one who goes beyond the letter of the law, must assume that his fellow's act was good.
This teaching is also explained as going a step further. Suppose one's fellow committed an act which was clearly a sin. In that case, we must assume that he committed it either unintentionally or accidentally. In that manner, we are also judging him favorably.
The Alter Rebbe offers a similar explanation to a Mishnah that is taught further on in Pirkei Avos. "Do not judge your fellow until you have stood in his place." He writes that "it is literally 'his place' (meaning his physical environment) that causes him to sin. (What does this mean? Why should his place cause him to sin?) To sustain himself, he must go about the market all day. He is among those who spend their time sitting on the street corners. His eyes see all sorts of temptations, and 'what the eyes see, the heart desires.'"
The Alter Rebbe makes it perfectly clear that he cannot excuse himself based on this logic. It is incumbent upon each of us to refrain from sinning in spite of the difficulties involved.
What Tanya teaches us
What Tanya teaches us is that even if one behaves improperly, we must look for a way to justify and explain their actions. We must try to find an explanation for his conduct.
Difficulties in Understanding the Mishnah
Based on the above explanation, we must understand the language of our Mishnah. Why are we told to judge our fellow favorably? The idea of the Mishnah seems to be not to judge him unfavorably. Had the Mishnah taught us that, it would have sufficed.
The Explanation
Hashem only demands of each of us that which we are capable of fulfilling. Hence, the fact that an individual is ensnared in a difficult test proves that he is capable of overcoming these obstacles. Despite being in "the market all day ... and of those who sit at the street-corners ..." he can nonetheless refrain from sinning.
Judging one's fellow favorably actually reveals this additional strength that he was given. Seeing him in a good light helps him to pass all tests without succumbing to sin. Therefore, the Mishnah cannot merely tell us not to judge him unfavorably. We must go beyond that and judge him favorably, enabling him to succeed in his mission and bring Moshiach now.
Adapted from the Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Emor, 5742
