This article is written to honor the memory of the author’s father, Moish Kranzler, z”l, on the occasion of his shloshim.

Let’s talk about a crucial topic nowadays. Sensitivity.

Shmirat HaLashon literally means “guard your tongue.” It is about watching what you say and how it can affect other people. Even if it’s not meant to be mean or if it’s not true, it doesn’t matter—words can be deadly. You don’t realize how sensitive people are. You never know how much someone is hurting inside just because of a small “harmless” joke you made. For instance, when I was younger I played soccer and I still remember that day of tryouts (or practice, I kinda forgot) outdoors. My mom accidentally got me football cleats instead of soccer ones, and I didn’t have soccer socks, so I wore regular socks. When we gathered in a circle, I remember the coach pointing out, “This kid isn’t even wearing the right cleats or socks; what is he doing?” Everyone laughed. Not one person stayed silent. Even the coach was laughing. That feeling of pain, embarrassment and humiliation—I still remember it to this day.

Over my years of physical activity, I’ve been injured and hurt, but nothing, I mean nothing, compares to that moment. It was horrible, and I still feel it every time I see or hear something like that happening.

See, the thing about sensitivity is that if you’re not normally a sensitive person, it takes experiences like these to realize how hurtful even the slightest comment can be. Everyone has feelings, no matter how much people may or may not show it.

Please take into consideration this perspective: Everyone has a neshama (soul), and it doesn’t matter whether in your eyes that person may not be attractive or kind, etc. That doesn’t lower anyone’s status. You see how I italicized the words “your eyes,” meaning they may not be ideally what you think of that classification of the word, but guess what? We do not have the right to judge someone, no matter how annoying or bad you find them. Why do I say this? Because the only thing that can judge us is Hashem.

How can we put down someone who is made in the likeness of Hashem?! The one and only God! You are basically putting down God! Nobody has the right to put you down, ever! It’s just not right.

Every time I see a kid playing by himself or being bullied or made fun of, or even hear “harmless jokes,” I feel that pain and I can’t bear the fact that other people go through this daily. So please—kid or adult, man or woman—just know that everyone has feelings. I just want people to realize that what you say or do can truly have a life or death impact on someone.

Next time you see someone, even if they’re right next to you, turn to them and look at them. (At this point, it may feel awkward.) Think positive thoughts; look at them and see them as a piece of God, a piece of Hashem. Please, I can’t stress this enough. Everyone is special, and even though most people are different, there is one thing in common: Everyone has a piece of Hashem inside of them. How can you dare bring down such a being—the Creator of the world, the one who makes you wake up, the one who keeps you alive, who makes you breathe? To be alive is a miracle! The fact that you woke up today is a miracle. The fact that your body is running smoothly is a miracle.

A human being is a delicate, beautiful person, whether in your eyes they are attractive or not. Everyone has feelings. Everyone feels emotions. Just because there isn’t much of a reaction on the outside definitely does not mean they aren’t crying and hurting on the inside.

It is so easy to not talk bad about anyone. You can just ignore the topic and move on; it’s worth the extra second of awkwardness; seriously, you will feel so much better after!

If you dig deep and really understand what all this means, you can see past the physical body and right to the person’s neshama. You will understand it’s not just about their physical traits! If you have the chance to do something, do it. Be kind. You have the opportunity to change someone’s life. Yes, that’s how serious little things are.

Have an amazing Shabbat!

David Kranzler is a 10th grader at TABC.