תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף ו עמוד ב
ואמר רבי חלבו אמר רב הונא: כל שיודע בחברו שהוא רגיל ליתן לו שלום - יקדים לו שלום, שנאמר: +תהלים ל"ד+ בקש שלום ורדפהו, ואם נתן לו ולא החזיר - נקרא גזלן
R. Helbo further said in the name of R. Huna: If one knows that their friend is used to greeting them, let them greet their friend first. For it is said: Seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms 34:15) And if their friend greets them and they do not return the greeting they are called a robber. [Soncino translation. Edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Why should one preempt a greeting?
2. Why is someone who fails to return a greeting called a robber? What did they steal?
3. How can we extrapolate the lessons from this text to apply to how we should govern our interactions with others?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)