Comments on: The Green-Eyed Monster http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/02/21/the-green-eyed-monster/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:47:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Binyamin http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/02/21/the-green-eyed-monster/#comment-85345 Binyamin Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:55:35 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/02/21/the-green-eyed-monster/#comment-85345 I would add to barry's comment that there is a further distinction (as I understand it) between "coveting"? [chemda] and jealousy [kin'a]. It is forbidden to desire to have the very item which belongs to someone else. [Lo Tachmod] If one is jealous of a neighbor, but does not actually desire to own their posession, then that is a moral failing [the mida of kin'a], but he is not violating a specific mitzva. (If someone feels motivated to buy something because he saw it by his neighbors, he does not fall into either category.) I would add to barry’s comment that there is a further distinction (as I understand it) between “coveting”? [chemda] and jealousy [kin'a]. It is forbidden to desire to have the very item which belongs to someone else. [Lo Tachmod] If one is jealous of a neighbor, but does not actually desire to own their posession, then that is a moral failing [the mida of kin'a], but he is not violating a specific mitzva.

(If someone feels motivated to buy something because he saw it by his neighbors, he does not fall into either category.)

]]> By: barry http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/02/21/the-green-eyed-monster/#comment-84656 barry Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:55:55 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/02/21/the-green-eyed-monster/#comment-84656 It has been noted elsewhere that the Torah does not proscribe us from wanting to [earn enough money] to BUY the Mercedes in the dealer's window. What IS forbidden is being envious of the one we see in our neighbor's driveway. It has been noted elsewhere that the Torah does not proscribe us from wanting to [earn enough money] to BUY the Mercedes in the dealer’s window.
What IS forbidden is being envious of the one we see in our neighbor’s driveway.

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