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Why was Jerusalem destroyed for not being 'roeh es haNolad' when other sources blame sinat chinam? The shiur demonstrates that 'roeh es haNolad' means objectivity - seeing beyond personal agendas to perceive all facts and consequences. When people are driven by subjective desires, they become blind to others' perspectives, leading inevitably to baseless hatred and conflict.
This shiur begins with Rabbi Zweig's analysis of Gittin 55b, where Rabbi Yochanan states that the destruction of Jerusalem occurred because they were not 'roeh es haNolad' (seeing what will transpire). This creates an apparent contradiction with another Talmudic statement that the Temple was destroyed due to sinat chinam (baseless hatred). Rabbi Zweig questions the very concept of sinat chinam, arguing that people don't hate for no reason - they may hate for insufficient reasons, but never for no reason at all. The shiur then transitions to examining a fundamental Mishna in Pirkei Avot where Yochanan ben Zakai asks his students to identify the proper path for a person. While most students suggest character traits like 'good eye,' 'good heart,' 'good friend,' and 'good neighbor,' Rabbi Shimon suggests 'roeh es haNolad.' This answer seems out of place among the character-based responses, as it appears to relate to wisdom rather than ethical behavior.
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Gittin 55b
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