This is as our Sages teach: Judge all men favorably (ibid. 1:6). When a person experiences opposition, he must search out some merit in his fellow—in this that [his fellow] opposes him—in order to judge him favorably.
Strife cannot be avoided for one of two reasons: It could be that his fellow is more advanced than he and so [his fellow] opposes him because he has not attained his spiritual level; in which case he has to endeavor so that he, too, can achieve his fellow’s level, in order that they might be equals. As a result, there will be no strife.
Or, sometimes, the reverse: he is more advanced than his fellow. There is strife because his fellow is jealous of him, over not having attained his spiritual level. It is therefore necessary to judge him favorably. By doing so, he elevates his fellow to the side of merit, and then they will both be in one place, on the same level. As a result, there will certainly be no strife.
For the strife is only because each one is different than the other. Either his fellow is more advanced than he, or he is more advanced than his fellow, as mentioned. But, if they were both in one place, on the same level, there would certainly be no strife. For within a single entity, strife does not apply.
In other words, you should endeavor to be with him in one place, on the same spiritual level, from either one of the two perspectives mentioned above. As a result, there will certainly be no strife. For within a single entity, strife does not apply.
By elevating his fellow to the side of merit, it is possible that his fellow will relent and there will be no further strife. Or, he will experience a fall, for it is quite possible that “you are heaping coals of fire upon his head” (Proverbs 25:22) by your judging him favorably.
This is the meaning of: “Judge all men favorably.” Specifically “judge,” because this is literally an aspect of judgment and justice. For it is known that before ascending to any spiritual level, a person is judged. Therefore, by your judging him favorably and elevating him to an even higher level, they judge him [in heaven]. And, according to the verdict, so will it be.
אַל תָּדִין אֶת חֲבֵרְךָ עַד שֶׁתַּגִּיעַ לִמְקוֹמוֹ (אבות פ"ב):
Al Tadin et Chaveirekha (Do not judge your fellow) until you have reached his place. (Avot 2:4)
זֶהוּ מַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: הֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת (שם פ"א). כִּי כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ מַחֲלֹקֶת עַל אָדָם, צָרִיךְ לַחֲקֹר לִמְצֹא זְכוּת בַּחֲבֵרוֹ בַּמֶּה שֶׁחוֹלֵק עָלָיו, כְּדֵי לְדוּנוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת.
This is as our Sages teach: Judge all men favorably (ibid. 1:6). When a person experiences opposition, he must search out some merit in his fellow—in this that [his fellow] opposes him—in order to judge him favorably.
כִּי הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת לֹא יִמָנַע מִשְּׁנֵי פָּנִים: אוֹ מֵחֲמַת שֶׁחֲבֵירוֹ גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנוּ בְּמַעֲלָה, וְעַל כֵּן חוֹלֵק עָלָיו עַל שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ לְמַדְרֵגָתוֹ. וַאֲזַי צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הוּא גַּם כֵּן לְמַדְרֵגַת חֲבֵרוֹ, בִּכְדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם שָׁוִים, וַאֲזַי לֹא יִהְיֶה מַחֲלֹקֶת.
Strife cannot be avoided for one of two reasons: It could be that his fellow is more advanced than he and so [his fellow] opposes him because he has not attained his spiritual level; in which case he has to endeavor so that he, too, can achieve his fellow’s level, in order that they might be equals. As a result, there will be no strife.
אוֹ לִפְעָמִים לְהֵפֶךְ שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל מֵחֲבֵרוֹ, וְהַמַּחֲלֹקֶת מֵחֲמַת שֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ מִתְקַנֵּא בּוֹ, עַל שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ לְמַדְרֵגָתוֹ. וְעַל כֵּן צָרִיךְ לְדוּנוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת, וּבָזֶה הוּא מַעֲלֶה חֲבֵרוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת, וְאָז הֵם בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד הַיְנוּ בְּמַדְרֵגָה אַחַת, וַאֲזַי בְּוַדַּאי לֹא יִהְיֶה מַחֲלֹקֶת.
Or, sometimes, the reverse: he is more advanced than his fellow. There is strife because his fellow is jealous of him, over not having attained his spiritual level. It is therefore necessary to judge him favorably. By doing so, he elevates his fellow to the side of merit, and then they will both be in one place, on the same level. As a result, there will certainly be no strife.
כִּי מַחֲלֹקֶת הוּא רַק מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהֵם מְשֻׁנִּים זֶה מִזֶּה, אוֹ שֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ אוֹ שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל מֵחֲבֵרוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, אֲבָל אִם יִהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד בְּמַדְרֵגָה אַחַת, בְּוַדַּאי לֹא יִהְיֶה מַחֲלֹקֶת, כִּי בְּדָבָר אֶחָד אֵין שַׁיָּךְ מַחֲלֹקֶת.
For the strife is only because each one is different than the other. Either his fellow is more advanced than he, or he is more advanced than his fellow, as mentioned. But, if they were both in one place, on the same level, there would certainly be no strife. For within a single entity, strife does not apply.
וְזֶהוּ: אַל תָּדוּן אֶת חֲבֵרְךָ עַד שֶׁתַּגִּיעַ לִמְקוֹמוֹ,
This is the meaning of: Do not judge your fellow until you have reached his place.
הַיְנוּ שֶׁתִּשְׁתַּדֵּל שֶׁתִּהְיֶה עִמּוֹ בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד, בְּמַדְרֵגָה אַחַת, מֵאֶחָד מִשְּׁנֵי פָּנִים הַנַּ"ל. וַאֲזַי בְּוַדַּאי לֹא יִהְיֶה מַחֲלֹקֶת, כִּי בְּדָבָר אֶחָד אֵין שַׁיָּךְ מַחֲלֹקֶת.
In other words, you should endeavor to be with him in one place, on the same spiritual level, from either one of the two perspectives mentioned above. As a result, there will certainly be no strife. For within a single entity, strife does not apply.
וּבָזֶה שֶׁמַּעֲלֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת, יוּכַל לִהְיוֹת שֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ יַחֲזֹר בּוֹ וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שׁוּב מַחֲלֹקֶת, אוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ מַפָּלָה, כִּי יוּכַל לִהְיוֹת שֶׁגֶּחָלִים אַתָּה חוֹתֶה עַל ראֹשׁוֹ בָּזֶה שֶׁאַתָּה מַעֲלֵהוּ לְכַף זְכוּת.
By elevating his fellow to the side of merit, it is possible that his fellow will relent and there will be no further strife. Or, he will experience a fall, for it is quite possible that “you are heaping coals of fire upon his head” (Proverbs 25:22) by your judging him favorably.
וְזֶהוּ: הֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת – דָּן דַּיְקָא, כִּי הוּא בְּחִינַת דִּין וּמִשְׁפָּט מַמָּשׁ. כִּי יָדוּעַ, שֶׁקֹּדֶם שֶׁעוֹלִין לְאֵיזֶה מַדְרֵגָה, דָּנִין אֶת הָאָדָם. וְעַל־כֵּן בָּזֶה שֶׁאַתָּה דָּן אוֹתוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת, וְאַתָּה מַעֲלֵהוּ לְמַדְרֵגָה יוֹתֵר גָּבוֹהַּ, דָּנִין אוֹתוֹ, וּכְפִי שֶׁיֵּצֵא הַמִּשְׁפָּט כֵּן יָקוּם:
This is the meaning of: “Judge all men favorably.” Specifically “judge,” because this is literally an aspect of judgment and justice. For it is known that before ascending to any spiritual level, a person is judged. Therefore, by your judging him favorably and elevating him to an even higher level, they judge him [in heaven]. And, according to the verdict, so will it be.