Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Musar for Sanhedrin 54:20

התם שהיה בידם למחות ולא מיחו

When Scripture states, Everyman shall be put to death for his ownsin,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXIV, 16. ');"><sup>31</sup></span> [it must refer to those whodo not hold fast to their fathers' ways. Then how shall we interpret, Andalso in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them?]<a rel="footnote" href="#56a_32"><sup>32</sup></a> — As referring to those who continue in the ways of theirfathers.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Ber. 7a. ');"><sup>33</sup></span> But do they [really] not[suffer for the sins committed by others]? Is it not written, And they shallstumble one upon another,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXVI, 37, lit., 'upon his brother'. The prefix [H] is here taken in the sense of 'because of'. ');"><sup>34</sup></span> meaning,One [will stumble] through the sin of the other, which teaches that all areheld responsible for oneanother?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shewing that the iniquities of one may be borne by the other. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> — There the referenceis to such as had the power to restrain [their fellowmen from evil] but didnot.

Orchot Tzadikim

And our Sages said, "Everyone for whom it is possible to protest against the sinful things of the people of his household, and he does not protest, is considered guilty of the wrongs of the men of his household. If it is possible for him to protest against the deeds of the people of his city and he does not do so he is held responsible for the wrongs of the people of the city. If it is possible for him to protest against the wrongs of the whole world and he does not do so, then he is considered guilty of the wrongs of all the world" (Shabbath 54b). And it is said, "And they shall stumble one upon another" (Lev. 26:37). And our Rabbis, of blessed memory, explained it as meaning, "Each man for the sin of his brother," which teaches us that all Israel are responsible, one for another (Sanh. 27b).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Previous VerseFull ChapterNext Verse