how to say “judgmental” in Hebrew
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The Torah portion to be read this Shabbat by Jews around the world is called מִשְׁפָּטִים (meesh-pah-TEEM), literally, ordinances or rules. The root of this word is שׁ.פ.ט (sh.p.t), meaning judgment.
To judge, in both the legalistic sense and in the interpersonal sense, is לִשְׁפּוֹט (leesh-POHT), while a שׁוֹפֵט (shoh-FET) is a judge (when a male). The Biblical story of Moses and the Israelite slaves expresses both senses of to judge in the phrase, מִי שָׂמְךָ לְאִישׁ שָׂר וְשׁוֹפֵט עָלֵינו (mee sah-meh-KHAH leh-EESH sahr veh-shoh-FET ah-LEH-ee-noo) – who placed you as a minister and judge upon us? The Israelite slaves in that passage are referring to Moses as a judge as well as a man being judgmental.
The Modern Hebrew word for judgmental is שִׁפּוּטִי (shee-poo-TEE). Likewise, nonjudgmental is simply לֹא שִׁפּוּטִי (loh shee-poo-TEE).
Oftentimes a judge, a שופט, is needed… and we all have a שופט or שׁוֹפֶטֶת (shoh-FEH-tet – the feminine form) within us. But the general approach of being לא שיפוטי is what makes relationships blossom… and, with שִׁפּוּטִיּוּת (shee-poo-tee-YOOT) – judgmentalism – restricted to the legal realm – makes the world a better place.
שבת שלום, וסוף שבוע נעים לכולם!
Shabbat Shalom, and a pleasant weekend to all!
