Shimini 5764
At the end of the Parasha in Shimini we learn about the signs of kosher animals and non-kosher animals. The Torah tells us three different terminologies regarding animals that do not have split hooves.
One Pasuk says, "Uparsa Enenu Mafris"
Another Pasuk says, "Uparsa Lo Yafris"
And the third Pasuk says, "Uparsa Lo Afrisa"
The first Pasuk is written in the present tense. "Uparsa Enenu Mafris" means that it currently doesn’t have spilt hooves. The second Pasuk is written in the future tense. "Uparsa Lo Yafris" means that it won’t split. And the third Pasuk is written in the past tense. "Uparsa Lo Afrisa" means that it was not spilt.
Rav Yisrael Salanta learns from the fact that the Torah writes this in all three tenses a very important law or practice regarding human beings. From here he learns that we can not reject something or someone unless there is no hope for him at all, not in the present, not in the past, and not in the future.
For example, there might be a person who is acting improperly or who might not be so religious at the present time. So Rav Yisrael Salanta says that you have to look at his past. Maybe he has respectable heritage. Maybe he comes from a good lineage. And therefore there is a chance that maybe he will come around. Or maybe you have to look at his future where maybe he will change then. Rejection is only justified only if there is no redeeming feature in the person, not in the past, not in the present, and not in the future.
And that is why when the Torah gives us the signs of un-kosher animals, it tells us; it wasn’t, it isn’t, and it won’t be. Then already it is not kosher. But if there is a chance at any time that it will be good, then already it’s Kosher. That is regarding human beings. You always have to give them the benefit of the doubt, and you always have to say, that even though right now he might not be OK, but maybe in the future he will be OK. Or maybe he has a respectable past, and therefore that earns him credibility which gives him a chance that he might change around.
Even in the case where a person has no hope at all, not the past, present, or future, still the Gemara says you have to push him away, and reject him with the left hand, and bring him around with the right hand. Which means, still you have to try to bring the person back. So the Torah is teaching a great lesson of how tolerant you have to be with people, so long as there is a chance for them to make Teshuva.
