Sketching Out Blog: Sketches of art, watercolor, photos, recipes, books, interviews, Jewish topics, and Highland Park, New Jersey

Glass Houses

"Do not accuse your friend of a flaw that you yourself have."

מום שבך אל תאמר לחברך

Rashi quotes the above phrase from Bava Metzia 59b in reference to Exodus 22:20 —

You shall not abuse a stranger, and you shall not oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

וְגֵר לֹא-תוֹנֶה, וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ: כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

So I said to my husband: is this a bit like “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones”? And my husband responded, but even if you weren’t a stranger in Egypt, you shouldn’t abuse a stranger.

But I don’t think it’s a good idea for people who live in brick houses to throw stones, do you?

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Ilana-Davita says

Short but to the point. A very important commandment if we consider the number of times it is repeated in the Torah.
Shabbat Shalom!

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leoraw says

Thanks. I'm going to aim for short in the coming weeks; seems to be better than not posting about the parsha at all (I missed last week because my idea was lengthy...and I had a busy work week).

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Mottel says

Well put!
Wishing you a great Shabbos!

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Jew Wishes says

Shabbat Shalom! Concise and to the point!

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ramblingwoods says

Very well said..not too many people follow that one...

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The Jewish Side says

I haven't heard this before: "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones”

You mean cause then they will break the glass?

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