Friday, July 28, 2023

How To Cure Jealousy


וְלֹא תַחְמֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ וְלֹא תִתְאַוֶּה בֵּית רֵעֶךָ שָׂדֵהוּ וְעַבְדּוֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ שׁוֹרוֹ וַחֲמֹרוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ.

Don't be jealous of your friend who has such a beautiful, amazing super duper אשת חיל!! And yours? Nu, nu.... 

Don't be jealous of your friend who has a palatial mansion - and your house? Badly in need of renovations you can't afford [or maybe you don't even own a house].

Don't be jealous of your friend who has a sleek new car [in the olden days there were other modes of travel]. And yours? Ten years old and you really want a new one. 

How??? How can I not be jealous? It is soooo hard!!! 

Answer in the pasuk: "וכל אשר לרעך" - ALL your friend has! It is a package deal!! Your friend also has TZAROS!!! Some you may know about. Others you definitely don't!!! He has health issues, children issues, marriage issues, emotional issues, various stresses at work, unresolved childhood trauma and the list goes on and on. 

Yes, he has things you don't have.

But you wouldn't want them.....   

וכל אשר לרעך!!!