As we look around the modern world, we–on the whole– have grown increasingly isolated from our neighbors. Rather than consider whether they are good or evil, and then select our position, it is uncommon these days for those shopping for homes to meet their neighbors before moving, or afterwards. Instead, we tend to err on the side of caution and avoid exploring this question entirely by not getting to know them. Likewise, few of us would actively choose to spend time with someone who is wicked, but instead we tend to follow the guidance of last week’s passage and judge all, or at least our friends, favorably. Nevertheless, we’ve all heard and experienced the fact that we are influenced by our peers and a process of mutual selection tends to amplify this effect– birds of a feather flock together as they say. This can lead to changes in behavior and thought, and the Sage seems to be warning us to not to risk being influenced by ‘bad’ people and to trust that retribution will come for such people.

My first reaction was to reject all of these premises: to reject the dichotomy posed by the Nittai, the division of neighbors and friends into bad and good, and people into the wicked and righteous; to reject the idea that we should isolate ourselves from such people rather than to help them grow, and to cling to one of the ideas central to modern liberal Judaism that we should seek to do good in this world and not focus on retribution in this world, which seems lacking, or in the next which is unknowable. However, I realized that there was an assumption in my interpretation that made this advice unworkable, that of false permanency. In our approaching High Holydays, we have a mechanism for repentance and starting each New Year fresh, forgiven for the evil we have done. So there is no such thing as a permanently evil or permanently wicked person whom we should avoid, but when people are acting bad or behaving with wicked intent, we should avoid falling into step with them during this time, but perhaps draw on last weeks’ advice to judge them with the scales tipped to merit each new year. Likewise, the Hebrew may redeem the last phrase as הַפֻּרְעָנוּת though rendered as ‘retribution’ in most translations is rather translated as ‘calamity’ by Berkson, suggesting that we should not be tempted by the fear of missing out in joining those behaving wickedly. Taken together, the advice may be to guard ourselves from normalizing evil, and to consider the long term consequences of our behavior and that of those we tolerate.

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Nittai the Arbelite used to say: keep a distance from an evil neighbor, do not become attached to the wicked, and do not abandon faith in [divine] retribution.

Mishnah Yomit by Dr. Joshua Kulp
Source: learn.conservativeyeshiva.org
Digitization: Sefaria
License: CC-BY

 

Nitai of Arbel says: “Distance [yourself] from a bad neighbor, do not befriend an evildoer and do not despair of punishment.”

Open Mishnah

Source: en.wikisource.org
Digitization: Sefaria
License: CC-BY-SA

Nittai Ha’arbeli says: Distance yourself from an evil neighbor, [so that you not learn from his deeds, and, also, so that you not share in his downfall, for “Woe to the wicked and woe to his neighbor!”], and do not befriend the wicked one. [For thus did the sages say: All who attach themselves to the wicked, even though they do not emulate them, receive recompense as they do. To what may this be compared? To one’s entering a spice shop. Even if he takes nothing, he absorbs the aroma and it leaves with him], and do not “despair” of [the arrival of] punishment [i.e., do not say: “I shall cleave to this wicked one, whose deeds are prospering, for fortune is favoring him.” He, therefore, says: “Do not despair of punishment.” That is, know that punishment will quickly come upon him, his undoing overtaking him of a sudden.]

The Mishna with Obadiah Bartenura by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein
Source: sefaria.org
Digitization: Sefaria
License: CC-BY

8. Matthai the Arbelite said, Withdraw from an evil neighbour; and associate not with the wicked;. and grow not thoughtless of retribution.

Sayings of the Jewish Fathers (Pirqe Aboth) translated by Charles Taylor [1897]
Source: sacred-texts.com

Nittai aus Arbel spricht: Halte dich fern von einem bösen Nachbar, geselle dich nicht zu einem Bösewicht, und gib den Gedanken an die (göttliche) Vergeltung nicht auf.

Mischnajot mit deutscher Übersetzung und Erklärung. Berlin 1887-1933 [de]
Source: talmud.de
Digitization: Sefaria License: [missing]

 

NITAJ AUS ARBEL SPRACH: HALTE DICH FERN VON EINEM BÖSEN NACHBAR, GESELLE DICH NICHT EINEM GOTTLOSEN, UND GIB DAS STRAFGERICHT NICHT AUF.

Talmud Bavli. Lazarus Goldschmidt. 1929 [de]
Source: nli.org.il
Digitization: Sefaria License: Public Domain

 

Nitaï d’Arbel disait: «Éloigne-toi d’un voisin malveillant, ne te ligue pas avec celui qui fomente le mal, et ne désespère pas devant l’adversité.»

Maximes des Pères, trans. by Rabbi Rivon Krygier, 2023 [fr]
Source: sefaria.org
Digitization: Sefaria
License: CC-BY-NC

 

 

Nitai de Arbel dice: aléjate del vecino malo, no frecuentes a los hombres malvados y no desesperes de la justicia Divina.

Ritual de oraciones para todo el ano. Traducción, adaptación y notas de Marcos Edery, 1965 [es]
Source: nli.org.il
Digitization: Sefaria
License: CC-BY

 

Nitai de Arbel diz: “Distância [tu mesmo] de um vizinho ruim, não faças amizade com um malfeitor e não te desesperes da punição.” (Nota do tradutor: da Punição Divina, mais justa e conhecedora dos corações humanos)

Ética dos Pais, Tradução por Bruno Manuel dos Anjos Marques Albano, 2023 [pt]
Source: sefaria.org