Shmelke of Nikolsburg

I thought that this was a relevant passage for issues that come up today regarding crime, punishment, and forgiveness in our society. How do you treat, punish, and forgive someone who is wicked? Rav Kook said, “It is our right to hate an evil man for his actions, but because his deepest self is the image of God, it is our duty to honor him with love.” I think that we can all agree that that it far easier said than done.

While I agree that our creator is a part of all of us, I also believe that we were given free will and born with the ability to make right and wrong decisions. I do not agree that by punishing the wicked, we are punishing ourselves or punishing God. God does not allow us or force us to do anything. We choose to do everything we do and every choice has a consequence. If you choose to murder someone, the consequence of that choice may be that you receive the death penalty. It is a wonderful concept to think that love and compassion will cure an evil person, but the truth is that some people are just sick and twisted and there is nothing that anyone can say or do that will change that. We did not cause wickedness in others, we cannot control wickedness in others, and we cannot cure wickedness in others. Duty or no duty, you cannot help those who do not want to receive help.

The passage speaks about showing people mercy because even the wicked have souls that are a part of God. To me, mercy means forgiveness. I have two opinions about this. One, forgiveness is not about the other person, but about yourself. When someone chooses to wrong you, you are able to make a choice. You either choose to hold on to resentment and hate and become a bitter, miserable person or you choose to free yourself by forgiving them for their actions and moving on with your life in a positive manner. Forgiveness does not mean that their actions were acceptable or that you even have to ever see or speak to that person again. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to not allow a wicked person’s wicked behavior to destroy the goodness and hope that lives within yourself. I believe that is how you can still show honor and love to God within a wicked person even when they are punished. You can punish a person and forgive them at the same time. Maybe forgiveness is punishment. In my opinion, choosing to forgive instead of allowing yourself to become a wicked person as well is more along the lines of our creator’s desires than for wicked people to run a muck in chaos and get away with it.