Don’t jump to conclusions TB Pesakhim 65

Yesterday we learned that all the Jews coming to bring the Passover sacrifice had to be divided into three groups based on the interpretation of the verse “And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it -וְשָׁחֲטוּ אוֹתוֹ כֹּל קְהַל עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל” (Exodus 12:6) קְהַל  means one group; עֲדַת means a second group; and יִשְׂרָאֵל  means the third group. Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 65 in my opinion unfairly describes and denigrates the third group.

“It was stated in the next clause of the mishna that after the first group exited, the second group and then the third group would enter. It was taught in the Tosefta with regard to the third group: It was called the lazy group because it was the last of the three groups. The Gemara asks: But it would not have been sufficient without this third group, as the Paschal lamb must be offered in three shifts. What, then, should the members of the third group have done? The Gemara answers: Nonetheless, the members of the third group should have hurried themselves so that they would not be in the last group.” (Sefaria.org translation)

I think the rabbis forgot in this case to apply their own dictum “When you assess people, tip the balance in their favor- וֶהֱוֵי דָן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת” (Avot 1:6) or in other words give him the benefit of the doubt. I’ve learned how wrong I could be when I jumped to conclusions about another person’s actions. Perhaps the Jews who were put in the third group came late because their child was sick and needed to be taken care of, because a wheel of their wagon fell off they had to repair it, or because they were delayed for a myriad of other good reasons.

Members of my congregation often come late to my services. Instead of chastising them, making them feel bad, and discouraging them from coming to future services, I thank them for coming and appreciate them for joining us. They are always welcome whether early, on time, or late. Those who are habitually late and nothing will ever change them, I still thank them and tell them better late than never.

Besides labeling people is never a good idea for perhaps they will internalize the message you’re sending him/her, start believing that message, and succumbing to the pressure of not being able to live up to the positive attribution or adopting that negative behavior.