How Do We Ensure Order And Peace?
Question: On the one hand it is said: “And you shall love your friend as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). On the other hand, it is said: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24). On the basis of these principles, is it possible to establish order and peace?
Answer: We need to work with egoism to balance it through, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” What this means is that balance must be equal and just, plus and minus must connect together through opposition, so “An eye for an eye,” is necessarily required to balance the system.
But we have to understand what “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” represent, meaning that I must place to the right side or the left side the same force that exists on the other side.
[199541]
From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 10/2/16
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Difficult…especially if judgement or cruelty is coming from the “left” side and the appropriate response is understanding and kindness from the right. How does someone actually do that in the real world when the natural response is toward defense…and sometimes defense is mandatory? Or…in reverse….how does an imbalance toward the right…innapropriate kindness or retreat from conflict correctly balance the left ? Don’t both sides need to be interested in the middle line? It would appear that this imbalance defines the state of much of the world at this moment. Never mind I think I need to read the related material section first. Thanks. Interesting.