THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN REBUKE AND HATRED

The Torah instructs us not to hate our kinsfolk and in the next breath tells us to rebuke our fellow when they do something wrong (Lev. 19:17).

Immediately afterward the Torah adds the ambiguous statement: “and do not bear sin on his account.”

What exactly is the connection between hatred and rebuke? Why are they combined in one verse? What sin could we be guilty of by offering rebuke to our fellow? What are the dynamics of rebuke? What are our obligations if we see someone do something wrong once, or frequently? 

Rabbi Dunner examines the sources, starting with Talmud and medieval commentaries, and then more recent musar and hasidic expositions, to offer a comprehensive overview of this important but often misunderstood topic.