Weekly Story: Chassidishe Middos (Traits)
Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
At a farbrengen Monday night (Yud Beis Tammuz) I heard the following story and thought. As always your feedback is most appreciated.
In the last maamar that was published in Hakriah V’hakedusha (later published as maamorei Yiddish and translated by Sichos In English as Chassidic Discourses), the Frierdiker Rebbe mentions the following story of the Baal Shem Tov.
The Baal Shem Tov had numerous students, some were very learned and others were not. The story deals with Reb Nosson of Brod who was very learned and was a successful linen merchant. Whenever he had a free moment he was learning and every night after work, he learned for a few hours. However, in regard to his character traits, he was quite average. Yes, he definitely gave tzedokah, but gave as required by halachah.
The Baal Shem Tov pointed out to Reb Nosson that he should improve his traits; however, he did not change, thinking that he is helping others as dictated by the shulchan aruch.
Another Jew who was connected to the Baal Shem Tov was Reb Avrohom from Belishtzenitzer. Although in learning, Reb Avrohom was very weak, learning Chumash from the tzeina u’reina (a translation in Yiddish), yet when it came to his character traits he always strove to improve.
The Baal Shem Tov based a teaching on the possuk in Yeshayahu (1:15) “And when you spread your hands, I will conceal My eyes from you; even if you increase your prayers I shall not hearken for your hands are filled with blood.”
He explained, that although the labor of mind and heart in Torah study and prayer is extremely important in one’s spiritual service, however, this does not guarantee that one’s emotional traits and conduct in worldly affairs are in order; there is the possibility for your hands to be “filled with blood,” So even when one gives tzedokah generously if empathy for the person’s plight is lacking, the possuk calls it “spilling of blood. So Hashem ignores his action, because the person did not give it to the less fortunate with feelings of warmth and words of encouragement.
Both of these two students were present when the Baal Shem Tov taught this teaching. Reb Nosson analyzed this teaching mentally, trying to comprehend the intellectual difference between service of the mind and service of the heart. While Reb Avrohom was horrified, was his behavior considered as if he is spilling blood? He resolved to improve himself and implement these changes in his life.
Some years later, the Baal Shem Tov showed his students the difference of these two people, and how Reb Avrohom who refined himself to new heights, truly surpassed Reb Nosson.
Five years later Rabbi Boruch Litvin asked the Rebbe if he can clarify the difference between middos (traits) according to Halacha and middos according to Chassidus.
The Rebbe responded, A Jew is aware that his livelihood comes from Hashem. So if a person has a business and someone opens a similar business and becomes his competitor since you realize that everything is from Hashem, Halachah dictates that you don’t bad mouth him, you don’t do anything against him and you don’t even think badly about him, as that person didn’t take anything away from you/.
However, middos according to Chassidus dictate that being that you consider yourself smarter or at least more knowledgeable than that person in this field, so you will give him advice and guidance helping him to succeed, as you know it would not affect your income and you are fulfilling the mitzvah of loving another person. You might even give him a loan!
Rabbi Mann who related this continued: I have an acquaintance who trained someone in his field and after the trainee became knowledgeable and had some learning experience, he opened up the same business in that town which infuriated his former boss. In simple words, there were bad feelings and etc.
One time the former boss went to the Ohel about something else and after being in the Ohel he had some time so he opened volume three of the Rebbes Igros, page 197, and read the above-mentioned letter.
That startled him and he said that is telling me that I was completely wrong in my feelings. As he was leaving to his shock he noticed that his competitor was entering and felt that the Rebbe was telling him something. He decided that he would listen to the Rebbe’s words and greeted his former employee with a warm Sholom Alecheim. The person was flabbergasted, but at the same time he was fearful that this might be a ruse and he should be careful.
Shortly afterward he received an email from someone asking for his services and at the bottom of the email he noticed that the person had originally emailed his former boss requesting his services, who replied that he should contact him.
Now in that field normally when someone recommends someone they are entitled to a broker’s fee, as long as they request it, but here there was no request.
So he was bewildered as to what is happening, and why is he now helping him. Only after this occurred a few more times, did he realize that it is genuine and not only did they make peace but sometimes they work on a project in unison.
Chassidus enables one to elevate himself higher, we just have to learn it properly!
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
