In a profoundly moving address to Congress this week, President Isaac Herzog made an intriguing observation: “I respect criticism, particularly from friends - but it is not always necessary to accept it. However, criticism should never devolve into outright negation.”
His words resonated deeply with me, underscoring the essential role that critique serves in shaping our relationships. It's through constructive feedback that we evolve. Yet, it's crucial to recognize when our criticism veers towards negativity, a line we must conscientiously avoid crossing. Even when our friends take it upon themselves to critique, the manner and timing of the delivery often carry more significance than the content of the criticism itself.
This art of effective criticism was well demonstrated by Moshe Rabbeinu. Despite navigating a challenging group, he offered criticism in such a nuanced manner that it demanded astute scrutiny to discern
Sefer Devarim starts off in a seemingly innocent manner
אלה הדברים א…
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