GOOD MORNING!

Sent to me by Alex Yusopov. THANKS TO HIM!!

The benefits of saying good morning from a booklet by Rabbi Dovid Flagler.

A. Rebbi Yisroel Salanter, Z’tl, had a Chabura which worked on the Middah of Sever Panim Yafos, a Sakin Chotachas, a knife which cuts through the covers of a potential relationship and allows a bond between two human beings to be properly formed.

B. Chazal (Avos D’Rebbi Nasson 13:4) teach: “If someone greets his friend with a pleasant face, then even if he did not give him anything, it is considered as if he gave him all of the Matanos Tovos--all of the good presents in the world!”

C. When you say “Good Morning” to a person, you are giving him a bracha. HaRav Yecheskel Sarna, Z’tl, taught that whenever you sincerely give a person a bracha, you actually fulfill the Mitzvas Asei of VeAhavta LiReiacha Kamocha.

D. Moreover, when you say “Good Morning” to a person, you are giving Kavod to Hashem. Since every person is a Tzelem Elokim, you are giving Kavod to Hashem when you give Kavod to one of His creations.

E. What is Sinas Chinam? HaRav Chaim Shmulevtiz, Z’tl, in his Sefer Sichas Mussar, writes that it is the He’edar Shalom Rei’us VeAhava--the concealment of peace, friendship and love between one and another. What we have to work on is bringing Shalom, Reius and Ahava into the world. We can begin by greeting people in a warm and friendly manner.

F. “A person always has to be kind to others. Above all he as to greet his friend with a smile, because it makes the other person fell good and it helps make people better friends.” (HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Z’tl, The Alter of Slabodka, Sparks of Mussar, p. 154)

G. In the Sefer Michtav Me’Eliyahu, HaRav Dessler, Z’tl, explains the significance of the Gemara in Brachos which states that Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakkai never allowed anyone to give Shalom to him first-- even an Akum in the marketplace. Rav Dessler marvels: “Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakkai--who never stopped learning p’sukim, mishnayos, gemara, halachos, gematrios, the conversations of the Malachei Hashareis, and Maaseh Ha’merkava, he was the Nasi of the entire Jewish people during the trying time of the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, and had the needs of the entire Jewish people upon his shoulders...and yet never did it happen that Rebbi Yochanan was so burdened by his thoughts that he forgot to be the first to give Shalom even to an Akum in the marketplace! What tremendous importance this must have--and it is something we can all do and accomplish!” H. The Tosfos Yom Tov (Avos 4:15) writes: “Be first to greet every person--by doing this all will love you--and this is the greatest success that you can attain in this world!”