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 Pirke Avot

     ISSUES IN ETHICS

#5: DO NOT REJOICE

 

 

What Would You Do? 

Joe comes into your office, beaming with news about Sheila, a co-worker, who did not get the promotion she was expecting. Sheila has been so arrogant about her abilities, that you have really developed a dislike for her. When you hear the news, your first reaction is to share Joe’s delight. Joe says, “It’s about time she got what

she deserved.  A group of us are going out after work to celebrate. Do you want to come?

 

Will you join in the celebration?

 

 

The Mishnah Teaches

Shmuel Ha-Katan was accustomed to say: “Rejoice not when your enemy           falls; let not your heart be glad when another stumbles…”

                     Pirke Avot 4:19

Discussion Questions

 

The Mishnah says that not only should you not go with Joe for a drink, but you should also control your feelings of happiness. It is easy for us to understand a prohibition against action, but the rabbis interpret “rejoice” as an inward reaction.

 

q                  Why would the rabbis be so concerned with feelings?

 

q                  Which of the following would you consider to be unethical and why?

 

-                      Having the feeling

-                      Going with the feeling

-                      Sharing the feeling

-                      Acting on the feeling

 

 

Application/Experiences

 

q                  Have you ever rejoiced over someone else’s misfortune? How did it make you

feel afterward?

 

 q      Is it possible to train oneself to automatically reject such negative feelings?

          

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