The pasuk has been used for much homiletic discourse concerning the attitude one should manifest upon contributing to a worthy cause. In V’chai Bahem from Horav Weiss, zl, the author quotes the well-known concept, posited by the Baal Shem Tov, that the faults a person notices in others are actually his own failings. Since Ein adam ro’eh nigei atzmo, “One does not perceive his own plagues/failings/shortcomings/indiscretions.” We notice everything regarding others, but never that which applies to us. Thus, the pasuk is informing us that, whatever indiscretions one notices in others, are a mirror image of his own failings. Likewise, when we observe a fellow Jew committing a positive act, we should view it as a personal message: “You, too, can do the same.”
This is the idea to which David Hamelech alluded when he said Haaveir einai mei’re’os shav, “Avert my eyes from seeing futility” (Tehillim 119:37). When David sees no evil in anyone else, it indicates that he, too, is pure of iniquity. This may also be the underlying meaning of Klal Yisrael’s declaration, Naaseh v’Nishma, “We will do, and we will listen.” They were intimating that we can hear/derive a lesson from everything, so that we can act accordingly. Because we listen first, we are predisposed to learn how to do whatever is asked of us. Nothing is beyond our ability and willingness to learn from others, because whatever we see in others is an indication of our own ability.
In order to say Naaseh v’Nishma, which is derived from good relationships between fellow Jews, the people had to get along and live harmoniously with one another. Thus, Hashem said, V’yikchu Li Terumah, “And let them take for Me a Terumah.” The word Terumah also means to uplift or elevate. The Torah is teaching us that one can elevate himself by studying kol ish, every person. If one sees something negative, it is a message for him to correct himself. If he sees positive activity, the message is: “You, too, can achieve as well as your friend.” The world around us is a large classroom – if only we are inclined to learn.
