How To Make The World A Better Place

Many years ago at Shabbos chanuka seuda, the Rebbe Shlita offered an original insight into the cconcept of "kinas sofrim tarbe chochma". The simple meaning is that when one scholar is jealous of another, the jealous one will learn with more diligence and increase his knowledge.

However there can be another meaning. When you know that I am jealous of you, it increases YOUR knowledge. If people are jealous of you because of a quality you have, it helps you value it more.

He told the story of a very arrogant doctor with whom he had to deal when his grandfather ztz"l was ill. The doctor was completely full of himself and quite obnoxious about it as well [I know people who are full of them themselves but are more amiable, sometimes it is even a bit cute:-)]. When they accidentally entered his waiting room, he scolded and ejected them [an elderly Chasidic Rebbe and his grandson!].

Afterwards, the Rebbe ztz"l insisted on making the long and painful trek [for him with his illness] back to the doctors room in order to apologize. The doctor rudely received them, whereupon the Rebbe ztz"l told the doctor how special it is that he is a doctor, something that Rebbe himself was not able to be. The doctor could almost not believe his ears, softened ..... and started to cry. He said [if I remember correctly] that it was one of the only kind words he had heard about himself in his life.

Tell someone how much you envy a talent they have and help them appreciate themselves. It will make the world a better place.

I promise:-).

לזכות רפואת שרה רבקה בת בריינדל לאה בתוך שח"י