In a letter to the editor of the Mishpacha magazine, a reader wrote the following which caught my attention.
Another thought, shared by a friend of mine who underwent a major tzaar. At the time of his suffering, he was inundated with visitors and mechanchim, who came en masse, many from far away, to sit with him and comfort him. He appreciated the outpouring of nesia b'ol and how each one took the time and effort to really participate and feel his pain.
Some time later, he merited making a simcha and again, many people came. "But this time," he told me, "I felt like their hearts weren't in it. They were coming to be yotzei, not to share in my emotions.
May we merit to share many happy occasions with friends and share their joy with heartfelt emotion.
Thursday 30 June 2011
Thursday 23 June 2011
Not a scandal
Scandals sell newspapers, so we are saturated with article after article about sleazy politicians, financial wrongdoings and the like. When a story breaks which will shed a negative light on a person's reputation, the incident is reported worldwide.
But, when there is a story that portays people in a favorable manner, few pick up on the article and publish it.
Last night I read an article at the Lakewood Scoop about a very honest storekeper. So far, I haven't seen anyone else pick up on the story. So, in case you missed it, click here to read a story not laden with scandal, but with principles of honesty that we should strive to emulate.
But, when there is a story that portays people in a favorable manner, few pick up on the article and publish it.
Last night I read an article at the Lakewood Scoop about a very honest storekeper. So far, I haven't seen anyone else pick up on the story. So, in case you missed it, click here to read a story not laden with scandal, but with principles of honesty that we should strive to emulate.
Monday 13 June 2011
Gratitude
Sara Yoheved Rigler has an article about gratitude on Aish.com which is worthwhile reading.
A couple of months ago, a a mother of two boys approached me to ask if I would tutor her young sons for an English test that they were taking in the beginning of June. In the end, I lent them two grammar books which have yet to be returned.
The family lives across the street from me. I bumped into the mother last week and asked if her children had taken the test. She replied in the affirmative.
"I would love to know what type of questions were asked on the test," I told the woman." Knowing that the boys had a busy school schedule, I asked when I could call them. She said that I could call in the afternoon, since it was Friday and they would be finishing school early.
I called a few hours later and the mother told me her boys were sleeping but she would have them call me. I reminded her that my books were still in her possession and she told me that her sons would return them.
Friday passed with no call or return of the books. Now it is Monday and I still haven't heard from them. I can assure you that when they needed the books, they were at my door at the first available moment.
Let's take more care in returning items in a timely fashion. Let's show gratitude for the favor bestowed upon us. Let me be dan lechaf zechut.
In a similar vein, when someone calls with a suggestion for a shidduch, if you decide that it is not appopriate, at least have the courtesy to call back the person who suggested the idea, thank them and let them know that you aren't interested, for the moment.
A couple of months ago, a a mother of two boys approached me to ask if I would tutor her young sons for an English test that they were taking in the beginning of June. In the end, I lent them two grammar books which have yet to be returned.
The family lives across the street from me. I bumped into the mother last week and asked if her children had taken the test. She replied in the affirmative.
"I would love to know what type of questions were asked on the test," I told the woman." Knowing that the boys had a busy school schedule, I asked when I could call them. She said that I could call in the afternoon, since it was Friday and they would be finishing school early.
I called a few hours later and the mother told me her boys were sleeping but she would have them call me. I reminded her that my books were still in her possession and she told me that her sons would return them.
Friday passed with no call or return of the books. Now it is Monday and I still haven't heard from them. I can assure you that when they needed the books, they were at my door at the first available moment.
Let's take more care in returning items in a timely fashion. Let's show gratitude for the favor bestowed upon us. Let me be dan lechaf zechut.
In a similar vein, when someone calls with a suggestion for a shidduch, if you decide that it is not appopriate, at least have the courtesy to call back the person who suggested the idea, thank them and let them know that you aren't interested, for the moment.
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