How often do we act as judge, jury and executioner? (Including whether the author of this podcast has given the correct spelling - judgment or judgement?) How often do we condemn colleagues, friends/former friends, bosses, leaders...and the list goes on.


And when our chidren complain about someone else, we jump on the 'That's Loshon Hora' bandwagon, even when they are justified in telling us something. But we are righteously indignant...or are trying to find the easy road out... But where did they learn it from? Is it do as I say? Or do as I do?


The story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza is multi-faceted. Today, I would like to focus on the aspect of the portrayed 'innocent party' and how we might have a wolf in sheep's clothing over here. I will use the motif of the cloud - darkening the skies, yet giving the rain; hiding the light, yet protecting us in the desert. How accurate are our perceptions of people, situations and events? And what happens when the truth is laid bare?


This is the tip of the iceberg that leads to the catastrophe that is Tisha B'Av.