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Sefer HaMiddot, Distancing the Wicked, Part I

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א. כְּשֶׁהַצַּדִּיק בָּא לְבֵית הָרָשָׁע, הַבַּיִת נִתְבָּרֵךְ, וְדַוְקָא שֶׁהַבַּיִת מְזֻמָּן לִבְרָכָה.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

The Tzaddik brings a blessing when he enters the house of a wicked person, but only if the house is suitable for a blessing.

ב. הַרְחֵק מֵרְשָׁעִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁלּא תִּתָּפֵס בְּעָנְשָׁם.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Keep away from the wicked so that you won’t be caught up in their punishment.

ג. בִּשְׁבִיל אֵיבָה מַרְאִין אֵיזֶה קֵרְבוּת לָרְשָׁעִים.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Showing a bit of friendliness to the wicked is permitted in order to avoid hostility.

ד. לִפְעָמִים כְּשֶׁעוֹשִׂין. אֵיזֶה טוֹבָה לְרָשָׁע גָּמוּר, בָּזֶה עוֹשִׂין נַחַת רוּחַ לַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

There are certain times when doing something good for a totally wicked person pleases God.

ה. אָסוּר לְסַפֵּר בְּשִׁבְחָן, אֲבָל מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּבוֹא מִשִׁבְחָן שֶׁבַח לַצַּדִּיק מֻתָּר לְסַפֵּר קְצָת.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

It is forbidden to praise the wicked. However, when such praise also reflects positively upon the Tzaddik, limited praise is permissible.

ו. מִי שֶׁמְּלַמֵּד זְכוּת עַל רָשָׁע, גַּם הוּא נִקְרָא רָשָׁע.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

One who finds good in the wicked is also called wicked.

ז. אֲפִילּוּ עוֹשֶׂה אֵיזֶהוּ דָּבָר כַּדָּת וְכַדִּין, אֵין אָנוּ סוֹמְכִין עָלָיו.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

We do not rely on a wicked person even if he has done something properly and in accordance with Torah law.

ח. מִי שֶׁעָרֵב בְּעַד רָשָׁע, נוֹפֵל לִידֵי תַּאֲוָות נִיאוּף גַּם נוֹפֵל לְחֻלְשָׁה.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Whoever stands as a guarantor for a wicked person succumbs to lustful desires and sickness.

ט. רָשָׁע שֶׁשָּׁכַח אֶת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לְגַמְרֵי, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁלּא יֵצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ זֶרַע כָּשֵׁר.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

A wicked person who has completely forsaken God clearly will never have worthy offspring.

י. כְּשֶׁנּוֹפֵל שוֹנְאוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּיָדְךָ, אַל תְּרַחֲמֵהוּ.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Have no mercy on an enemy of God when he falls into your hands.

יא. כְּשֶׁלּא תְּחַבֵּר אֶת עַצְמְךָ לְשַׁקְרָנִים, הַיְדוּעִים לְךָ, עַל יְדֵי זֶה תִּזְכֶּה לְהָבִין אֶת הַצְּבוּעִים.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Avoid associating with people who are known for telling lies and you will be worthy of detecting deceivers.

יב. מִי שֶׁשּׂוֹנֵא אֶת הַמְּסִיתִים, בְּוַדַּאי לא יִדְבַּק בּוֹ דִּבְרֵיהֶם.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Whoever despises those who entice people away from God is assured that he won’t be affected by their words.

יג. עַל יְדֵי לִמּוּד תּוֹרָה נַעֲשֲׂה רִחוּק בֵּין הָרְשָׁעִים הַמְקרָבִים.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

The study of Torah drives a wedge between wicked people who have joined forces.

יד. מִי שֶׁמְּרַחֵק אֶת עַצְמוֹ מֵרְשָׁעִים, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ יְשׁוּעָה.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

The Holy One rescues a person who keeps his distance from the wicked.

טו. הַפִּזּוּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בֵּין הָרְשָׁעִים סִימָן לִישׁוּעָה.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

When the wicked are scattered, it is a sign of salvation.

טז. תַּרְחִיק מִלָּדוּר בְּבַיִת, שֶׁדָּר בּוֹ רָשָׁע.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Avoid living in a house once inhabited by a wicked person.

יז. אַל תְּדַבֵּר עִם הַמְּסִיתִים אֲפִילּוּ לְהוֹכִיחָם וּלְקָרְבָם.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

Don’t talk to those who try to lure you away from God, even to admonish them and bring them closer to Him.

יח. הִתְחַבְּרוּת רְשָׁעִים מַזִּיק לַעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

The wicked joining forces is detrimental to one’s serving God.

יט. נָאֶה וּמִתְקַבֵּל לִקְדוֹשֵׁי ה', שֶׁיַּעֲשֹוּ מָסָךְ וּמָגֵן, עַד. שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יִבְרַח כָּל אִישׁ מֵצִיק וְרָשָׁע.

The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986

It is fitting and right for God’s holy ones to create barriers and obstacles that will chase away all tyrannical and wicked people from them.