By Rabbi David Polsky
Many commentators are bothered by the Torah’s statement, “do not hate your brother in your heart; you shall rebuke your neighbor; and you will not bear sin because of him” (Leviticus 19:17). What is the connection between rebuking and not hating? What is the connection between these two ideas and not bearing sin? Nahmanides explains that when we see our fellow do something wrong without telling him, we end up hating him. By telling our friends what we think, we not only remove our anger for them but also lead them to change their behavior. Proper communication between friends preserves and deepens friendships.