B'chasdei Hashem, over the past almost 20 years, Beis Mevakesh Lev has produced over 13,300 audio shiurim and over 31,000 written posts, unmatched by any one-person website - all completely free of charge. There are no paywalls or anything else. Now we are turning to you for help so we can continue - any amount will help. Even 99 cents! Thank you to my sweetest and most beloved friends!!!:-)!!
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On the last sentence of the blessing of Yaakov to Yehuda "ולבן שיניים מחלב", Chazal say: R' Yochanan said: One who whitens his teeth to his friend is better than one who gives him milk to drink, as it is said: "And whiter of teeth than milk," do not read "whiter of teeth" but "whitening of teeth." (Ksubos 111b). The most "standard" action that reveals our white teeth is the act of smiling. The Sages tell us: Drinking milk is a nice thing. A thirsty person is very happy to receive a glass of milk, but every person, as he is, is much happier to receive positive and heartfelt attention. Receiving the other, empathy, sympathy, and all this if it comes with a smile, is "worth" ten times more than a glass of milk, even though it is quenching and cool.
What is the message?
There are research findings that indicate that a smile is a normal response to certain stimuli, which occurs regardless of a specific culture. A response that is ingrained in a person from birth (as opposed to a learned response) that appears even in blind babies from birth. It has also been found that fetuses smile in their mother's womb. Usually, a feeling of joy causes a smile, but one can also say the opposite: a smile is not only a result of joy and a "pleasant" feeling, but it is in itself a cause of joy, of a good feeling. It "calms", reduces tension, causes moderation in receiving messages, even if they are not so positive. The research reveals a very interesting phenomenon: a smile not only changes the facial expression but can also cause the brain to produce endorphins, which reduce the feeling of physical and mental pain and create a feeling of well-being. In the relationship between smile and anger, an interesting finding was discovered: when a person smiles, he uses ten muscles, but when he gets angry, he uses... seventy-five muscle. A smile is a "worthwhile deal" because it enriches the recipient without impoverishing the giver. Indeed, there are people who are too tired to be able to smile at us, but we - we will smile at them because there is no person who needs a smile so much, as that person who is unable to smile at us.
בספר שמוש חכמים הובא מרגלא בפומיה דהגאון רבי יצחק הוטנר זצ"ל בשם רבינו הגאון רבי ישראל סלנטר זצ"ל לומר 'אויב איינער גייט ארום מיט אשווערע הארץ איז דאס א בור ברשות היחיד אבער ווען איינער גייט ארום מיט אשווערין פנים גייט ער ארום מיט א בור ברשות הרבים' [לב מלא עצבות הוא בור ברשות היחיד אך פנים מלאי עצבות הרי זה בור ברשות הרבים].
