Answers WithHeld Can We Judge Everyone Favorably?
Jul 23, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Steve Greenberg, founding director of Eshel, shares his insights on the Jewish principle of judging others favorably. He and Rabbi Shai Held explore how this mindset can transform relationships and personal healing. They delve into the power of empathy, emphasizing the importance of acceptance of imperfections in close connections. The discussion also touches on the ethics of perception, illustrating how understanding others can reshape moral judgments. Tune in for a thought-provoking exploration of generosity and its profound impact.
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Meaning of Judging Favorably
- Judging everyone favorably means assessing others' actions with generosity, not avoiding judgment altogether.
- We naturally judge, but we can choose to tilt the scale towards seeing the best in people most times.
Favorability Enables Relationships
- Relationships require judging others favorably to sustain them despite faults.
- Having teachers and friends can also enable us to see others with generosity and compassion.
Pluralism and Imperfection
- Pluralism depends on tolerating imperfections in ourselves and others to coexist peacefully.
- We choose communities for their strengths we love and weaknesses we can live with.
