The Talmud Berachot 7b brings up a big debate in life itself. Is it permitted to provoke the wicked? Those who look at the general way of the world may notice how often those who commit atrocities – those who perpetrate evil – actually succeed. Actually, they seem to go on and on with their success.
The famous question of why the wicked prosper comes to mind. But what of those who have had an injustice done to them? Should they further antagonise the wicked? Are we allowed to provoke the wicked and should we in fact do so.
The Talmud brings up a variety of opinions on this delicate and sensitive subject. Some say that one can. Yet others even say we should. And yet others say to stay far from those involved in evil.
Distance yourself from an evil neighbour – says Pirkei Avot. Maybe it’s best to just stay as far away as possible from them – because whenever they do bad – they succeed. Actually even when they are caught out, they may laugh at the judgment against them – laughing at everyone in the court room, at everyone who cannot understand the person’s way of life.
So, if for some reason the evil person can get away with murder – is it worthwhile engaging in an argument when it could even be that for some reason, he is “blessed” by his “lucky stars” with good fortune of getting away with the evil he does? If so, then even when an injustice is done to the righteous person – perhaps it is better for him to stay away from the evil person – who, for all intents and purposes, will be successful in any case – even when he is involved in wrong…
What a troubling section of Talmud this is. It brings to mind so much frustration that many of us go through. At the end of the day, like so many things in life – these are just some of life’s mysteries we will never get to understand adequately.
The Gemara continues, and tells us that it is important to have a fixed place to prayer. It then discusses another fascinating area of Torah life. It is greater to serve Torah scholars than it is to study Torah.
But listen in to the entire Shiur to hear more about these exciting themes discussed in our Gemara today!
