The mishnah states (Avos 1:6)  “Hevei don es kol ha’adam l’kaf zechus – and judge every person favorably,” and our rabbis present various characterizations and explanations for this adage.

 The proverb is expressed in Hebrew “l’kaf zechus.”  The question is asked why do we need the word “l’kaf”?   The mishnah could have merely said, “Hevei don es kol ha’adam l’zechus”.  The concept of gematriya (numerical values) offers a very interesting insight into how we judge others.  Often times, when a person’s behavior puzzles us, even if we judge him favorably we still have some doubts. The gematriya of the Hebrew word “l’kaf”is 100.  This is to teach us that when we judge another Yid we have to judge him 100% favorably.

 Similarly, R’ Yitzchok of Kaliv employs the principle of gematriya and points out that the numerical value of the phrase “don es kol ha’adam l’kaf zechus” is 1,018, which is the same gematriya as Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad.  This implies that one who accepts the absolute sovereignty of Hashem is endowed with the ability to judge people favorably.  This could easily explain why R’ Yehoshua would welcome Yeishu only at the time that he was reciting Krias Shema.   

 The Yismach Moshe questions the extent to which one must judge somebody “l’kaf zechus”.   He explains that an aveiroh creates two problems.  There is the performance of the aveiroh itself, but there is also the chilul Hashem which is generated.  However, if one judges the sinner favorably, at least the negative result of a chilul Hashem can be avoided.

 The Alei Shor, Hagaon HaTzaddik R’ Wolbe, expounds on another reason why one should judge another person favorably.  He cites the fact that every action of a person is either irreproachable or blameworthy and is initiated by either the yetzer hatov or the yetzer hora.  Since it is impossible for any human being to know the innermost thoughts of any person, we cannot determine the instigator.  Therefore, our duty is to judge each person favorably.    

 We learn in Mesechta Derech Eretz Rabba, Perek 6, that once Hillel HaZoken  invited somebody to his home for the afternoon meal.  He and his guest sat waiting at the table for one hour until the food for the seudah was brought to the table.

 So Hillel said to her, “My daughter, why is it that you didn’t bring the meal right away?” 

 She answered, “A beggarcame to the house and said, ‘I am getting married today.  I don’t have any seudah.’   So I took the whole seudah that I had prepared for your meal and I gave it to him.  Then I had to go back and start from scratch, to prepare and cook the meal for you.”

 Hillel said to her, “My daughter I have always determined in your favor that everything that you do is only l’shem shamayim – for the sake of Heaven.” 

 HaGaon R’ Chaim Brisker was once on the traveling through Germany at the time of Tisha B’Av.  The Haskalah Movement had caused much destruction for Klal Yisroel, and most of the Jews of the city had not come to shul to cry over the churban.  On the night of Tisha B’Av, R’ Chaim found himself among the few who were in the shul sitting on the floor weeping and saying Kinos over the Churban Bais HaMikdosh and over the terrible churban of the Jews of Germany. 

 Towards evening on the day of Tisha B’Av,  one of the inhabitants of the city came into shul.  Dressed as one of the goyim, it was apparent that he had abandoned yiddishkeit; however, his face was sad.  His distress and anguish was very obvious.  To the amazement of R’ Chaim, the well-dressed man sat down on the floor of the shul, not far from where R’ Chaim was sitting, and  began to cry over the Churban Bais HaMikdosh.  

 R’ Chaim was intrigued and wondered ehat had moved this Yid to come to the Bais Medrash now to cry over the Bais HaMikdosh, in contrast with most of the Jews of the city?   

 R’ Chaim approached the man and questioned him. The man explained that his business had failed and he had fallen on hard times.  He had no doubt that when Moshiach would come his own personal tzorros would be eliminated.   

 Those standing around laughed at this answer, but R’ Chaim spoke out:  If this person at least connects his personal tzorros to the Churban Bais HaMikdosh it indicates that all the others inners as well  have not been lost.