I know someone who was having problems with his friend. Yehudah* felt it was time to end the friendship; however, David* on the other hand did not feel the same way.
David felt there had been some type of miscommunication and the reason for the friendship to end was not valid. Yehudah begged to differ and ended it anyway. From that day on, David decided that he was going to make Yehudah's life miserable. He started to spread loshon hara about him, cursed him whenever he was around, and even vandalized his property.
Yehudah raged with anger and wanted to take revenge, but he was advised not to by his Rebbe. “This is ridiculously unfair! David is getting away with doing all this stuff while I sit here passively. If only taking revenge wasn't an issur in the Torah!” Yehudah thought.
After a few weeks of David's childish games the 'war' ended. David decided it wasn't worth going through all this trouble because it wasn't bothering Yehudah anymore.
The best part about this story is that Yehudah never even retaliated one time.
Put yourself in that situation. What happened that Yehudah took his Rebbe's advice so seriously?
Perhaps the answer can be found in this week's parasha: It says in Parashas Kedoshim, “Don't take revenge or bear a grudge on another Jew; and love your friend like you love yourself, for I am Hashem.” [1]
“For I am Hashem,” is said many times in the Torah and Rashi explains what it means a couple of times. Rashi doesn't explain it here, however, he does mention it in Parashas Acharei Mos (which also happens to be this week's parasha.)
“You should keep My laws and live by them, For I am Hashem.” Rashi explains: I am trustworthy to pay back merits. [2]
Yehudah reasoned that there's no way he can lose out by doing the will of Hashem. Sure, someone is trying to ruin his life and his property, never-the-less, Hashem commanded us not to take revenge and so he didn't. It wasn't Yehudah's decision to punish his friend, rather it was Hashem's. The same way Hashem is trustworthy to 'pay back merit' (to reward), He is also trustworthy to pay back with punishment.
May we be zocheh to have no enemies and have self-control over our actions.
Have a wonderful shabbos,
Nisso
[1] 19:18
[2] 18:5
* Names changed to protect real identity
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