Judging Every Man On the Side of Credit

"And he looked, and lo, three men stood above him, and [when] he saw [them], he ran to meet them. (Bereshit 18.2)

"He said: If I see that God's presence awaits them, I will know that they are great men. If I see that they are respectful to one another, I will know that they are fair men." When in fact, he saw that they were respectful to one another, he knew that they were fair men." (Yalkut Shimoni 82)

Man constantly appraises his fellow man. He comes into contact with people who make an impression, either positive or negative, and so forms his opinions and attitudes. Our Sages had this in mind when they instructed us: "Judge every man on the side of credit." (Pirkei Avot)

In order to formulate our impressions of others, we use various yardsticks. Often, physical appearance may enter our equation, though that criterion alone would hardly suffice in aiming for a fair evaluation. Abraham teaches us what criteria are truly critical: "And he looked, and lo, three men stood above him, and (when) he saw (them), he ran to meet them...:

When Abraham saw these three men, they most likely made som einitial impression on him. How did these three strangers strike Abraham? The Midrash tells us (Bereshit Rabbah 48.9): "Rabbi Levi said: One appeared to him as a Sarki (Ishmaelite), one as a Navati (safanite,) and one as an Arab."

All three appeared as primitive gentiles, idol worshipers. At that point, Abraham might just as well have asked himself what he might possibly want to do with these three strangers. At first glance, he might want nothing to do with them.

Yet Abraham is not satisfied with a single glance. He looks again. The Torah mentions two sightings: "and he looked, and lo, three men stood above him and [when[ he saw [them] he ran to meet them..."

Abraham looks, and then he sees. The Midrash explains the nature of Abraham's second look: "He said: If I see that God's presence awaits them, I will know that they are great men. If I see that they are respectful to one another, I will know that they are fair men." When in fact, he saw that they were respectful to one another, he knew that they were fair men."

It is never sufficient to judge a person by external characteristics alone. On needs to look deeper, for more telling attributes. Such deeper examination makes it all the more likely that we will "judge every man on the side of credit."