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Why does the Gemara (גמרא) blame people for disasters when they were acting correctly - removing unwanted wedding guests, stopping soldiers from taking food? The key insight: being right doesn't eliminate responsibility for negative consequences to others. True wisdom means addressing the underlying needs your correct actions might harm.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes the Gemara (גמרא)'s teaching 'Ashrei adam mefached tamid' (Praiseworthy is the person who's constantly afraid) through the lens of the three destruction stories - Kamtza and Bar Kamtza leading to Jerusalem's destruction, the rooster and hen incident causing Tur Malka's destruction, and the wagon wheel incident resulting in Betar's destruction. Rashi (רש"י) explains this as being worried about consequences - 'ro'eh es hanolad' (seeing what will be born). The fundamental difficulty Rabbi Zweig addresses is: if these people were acting correctly (removing unwanted wedding guests, protecting wedding customs from soldiers taking food and materials), why does the Gemara criticize them for not seeing consequences? Were they simply stupid for not expecting Roman retaliation?
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Gittin 55b
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