Virtually each and every one of us sometimes makes use of strict justice towards others, whether parents to children, teachers to students, or even storekeepers to their buyers and sellers. It is imperative to remember that no matter how correct it is to make use of strict justice in that circumstance, we need the mercy of Hashem to ensure that we do not let strict justice take control of everything that we do. The more we make use of strict justice, the more we become all but addicted to it, and find the need to act in all areas according to strict justice.
Thus, parents or teachers who are in situations in which they indeed must use strict justice against their charges, have to do so for the sake of Hashem, and not because they are angry. Simultaneously, they must beseech the Source of Mercy that they not become cruel.
Demonstrations Lead to a Cruel Heart
The Gerrer Rebbe, the Pnei Menachem was against going to demonstrations. He told me that each time a person demonstrates against something, there is the danger that it will breed cruelty and evil in the heart of the demonstrator.
For a while, my grandfather, the Tolner Rebbe, used to cry out against those driving on Shabbos during his Shabbos walks, and then he stopped. He told me that when a person does a good deed personally, he does not need anyone’s permission, but when he demonstrates against others, and sometimes has to raise his voice against them, he requires the permission of his Rebbe. Since when he told the Gerrer Rebbe the Beis Yisrael what he was doing the Rebbe did not seem too pleased, he decided to stop. Instead, he would quietly say to Himself, “Shabbos Shabbos” as a personal reminder that it was Shabbos.
So we must learn from our Parshah that as important as it is to reprimand one’s children or students, and sometimes even to punish them, we must be so careful that this not lead to hatred or cruelty. We must be careful to do so only for the sake of Heaven, as if we were before Him, and to constantly daven that the Source of Mercy and Kindness grant us mercy and keep us kind. In this manner, we can keep our hearts clean and pure, removed from any cruelty or wickedness. Thus, we will merit instilling a spirit of purity into the children and pupils, and to draw them near to Torah, service and doing kindness, Amen, KYR.
