Chapter IX

This [yeshus] is also the cause of the hatred which springs up between one man and his fellow for no reason, merely because one cannot tolerate his fellow and views him negatively, despising and scorning even the good within him. He will deprecate and scorn his friend’s Divine service and his fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos. Although his fellow has never harmed him, and on his part, he has no plan to actually harm his fellow, still his heart is not completely with him and for no reason whatsoever. This is alluded to in the verse,1 “Your brothers who hate you have said” one’s own brothers become one’s enemies. The Hebrew word for brother (אח) means to join a union stronger than merely the absence of anything separating one from the other. Hence the verse refers to “brothers,” [implying a state of] being bound and connected, and yet, they are enemies without reason, merely because they cannot tolerate each other. Such a person is not happy in his fellow’s peace and good fortune. On the contrary, he secretly rejoices at the other’s suffering, heaven forbid. At the very least, he is not troubled.

In truth, one should feel more anguish at someone else’s suffering than at one’s own (heaven forfend). In one’s own case, one can always explain that one deserves suffering because of one’s misdeeds. As our Sages declared,2 “If one sees that suffering is coming upon him, he should examine his deeds.” If one honestly searches, [the reason] will surely be found. If no [reason can be found, our Sages explain] that the suffering results from one’s failure to study Torah. [Realizing the cause,] one will not feel anguish. Quite the contrary, since suffering rectifies the soul, he will accept it with love.

However, these assumptions cannot be made concerning another’s suffering. One must assume that the other person is good in every respect. One should not view others in terms of one’s own [experience], for one must judge every man positively and firmly believe he is surely better than oneself. Hence, one ought to be deeply distressed by the suffering of one’s fellow, and pray for him. (If one knows for a fact that his fellow has sinned he should tell him so in private and admonish him for his evil deeds. Through this “he will return to G-d and He will have compassion upon him,”3 and turn His anger away from him.) If one does not commiserate, and even more so if one is gratified, [his feelings are motivated] by baseless hatred.

Summary:
Baseless hatred prevents one from partaking of the joy or sorrow of one’s fellow. An explanation can be found for one’s own suffering, though not for one’s fellow’s suffering, since we must judge others favorably.