Opinion & Comment
A Middos Workshop: Ahavas Yisroel -- the Oneness of the Jewish People

Honoring Hashem by Honoring the Human -- Part II

The first part of this shiur explained the concepts of the unique contribution of humanity to revealing the glory of Hashem by showing how the glory of Hashem penetrates even such a lowly place as that of man. The greatest potential for revealing this is in the Jewish people. We must not even abuse a Jewish criminal by leaving him on the gallows overnight because he shows the potential that was wasted by the crime committed.

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Indeed, Hashem has far-reaching love and mercy for His children, even for the sinner who did not realize his potential. We see a prime example of this rachmonus -- compassion -- in Dovid's plea of forgiveness for his rebellious son Avsholom, who descended into the seventh level of Gehennom. Upon hearing of Avsholom's demise, Dovid Hamelech beseeched Hashem, bemoaning Avsholom's passing with cries of "Beni" a total of eight times. Chazal teach us that each time Dovid Hamelech said beni he asked Hashem to bring Avsholom up one level.

Although Dovid Hamelech described Avsholom's revolt as his most bitter moment of life, he retained utmost compassion for his wicked son. His love was so deep that he pleaded with Hashem to view Avsholom's potential as Dovid Hamelech's perfect extension and to redeem him in Dovid's merit. Chazal inform us that Hashem responded to Dovid's compassion and rescued Avsholom from the fires of Gehennom.

Ba'al Hatanya teaches us the proper attitude towards a rosho, a thoroughly wicked person. Although we must undoubtedly abhor his disgraceful conduct, we should remember the poor unfortunate soul trapped inside this rebel. That neshomoh is suffering untold pain and anguish and is begging to be redeemed. It, too, came to the world to reveal Hashem's glory and is having an incredibly difficult time getting its message across to its carrier.

Now, let's imagine that someone very wicked entered the room. How should we feel? According to Ba'al Hatanya, we should have two separate feelings towards this person. On the one hand, we should abhor his actions since they are despicable to Hashem. On the other hand, we should remember that he too remains Hashem's child, with a pure neshomoh that craves to reveal Hashem's Image buried within himself.

It is important to remember that Hashem does not want angels. He wants people--people who overcome their challenges and reflect His glory. In other words, the more lowly an individual the higher he can rise.

Maharal adds that the distance of a rosho from Hashem indicates his potential return. A neshomoh that strays far from Hashem must possess an equal ability to return. In this context, the wickedness of a rosho reveals his enormous potential to reveal Hashem's glory. In order to accomplish this, that neshomoh must have originated from a very high point, standing in close proximity to Hashem. If we tune into the potential of others and view them through this perspective, our love for them will undoubtedly increase.

On a similar note, the Alter of Slobodka would rise and escort simple beggars who entered the Beis Hamedrash. His talmidim questioned the appropriateness of such kovod for someone who seems so undeserving. The Alter responded that Chazal teach us that the Shechina accompanies the pauper. Because the poor and low-spirited rely solely on Hashem, they become perfect candidates for Hashem's Presence to rest upon them.

We learn from this how Torah giants see the hidden greatness in everyone, even in the lowly. We should learn from them and also seek to uncover Hashem's glory, or at least our reflection of it. When we display exemplary behavior, we reveal our personal aspect of Hashem's glory. We hope that others will be impressed by it and declare, "How beautiful are the ways of Torah; fortunate is the person who studied Torah." And Hashem will respond by proclaiming to the entire universe, mal'ochim included, "This is My Yisroel through which I am glorified."

Our task is both to reveal Hashem's glory in ourselves and to take note of the goodness in others. Every Jew reflects Hashem's glory. The gemora tells us that in the time of Moshiach, ten members of each of the 70 nations will grab hold of the four corners of the Jew's tzitzis. Each Yid will have 2800 gentiles holding onto his tzitzis! If a non-Jew will understand the value of every Jew, shouldn't we?

In addition, when we tune into the special qualities of each Jew we become more aware of Hashem's greatness, which is the source of all good character traits.

Individualized Kovod Hashem

We find that no two individuals throughout history have ever shared identical facial features or personality, even identical twins. Similarly, the glory of Hashem displayed by each person is unique.

Practical halacha proves this fact. The Chayei Odom explains that the laws of kibbud av vo'eim do not revolve solely around actions and words, but also include attitudes. Every person is obligated to view his parents as prominent leading figures of Klal Yisroel. HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt'l interprets this to mean that one must find a special quality of his parents that surpasses those of everyone else. We deduce from this that each person has some quality that actually outshines everyone!

Our natural human tendency is to search for the imperfections in others, but this is the exact opposite of our task in this world. We are expected to seek out positive characteristics in everyone around us. This uniqueness is that individual's manifestation of Hashem's kovod in this world. We should begin looking at those around us and ask ourselves, "What do they contribute to this world?"

In the beginning Hashem created one person, with the intention of eventually fully populating the world. Why, then, did He create just one man? The mishna answers that this is to teach us that each person is obligated to say that the world was created for him.

In view of the above, we can explain this as follows. Just as Odom Horishon filled the world with his revelation of Hashem's kovod, so can each individual fill the world with his reflection of kovod Hashem. Hashem obviously appreciates each person's unique potential to expose His greatness. Do we value individuals in a similar manner?!

Finding the good in others can present a serious challenge. Sometimes we feel uncomfortable with ourselves and inferior to others. When we feel this way about ourselves, it is difficult to see the value in others. To increase our self- esteem, we may resort to finding fault in others and thereby endorse ourselves. This comes from the pitiful attitude of feeling important only when someone is more lacking than I.

To break this fault-finding habit, we should concentrate on the fact that first-of-all our own value is not related to others. If we could fully realize that our value would remain the same even if there were no one else in the world, we will begin to appreciate the qualities of others that are likewise related solely to themselves.

Pirkei Ovos states, "Who is a wise person, one who learns from each person." When we search for the unique qualities of others, we reveal Hashem's kovod and even become wiser. If we are honest, we can make every person in the world our teacher. And we know how much honor teachers deserve.

The following moving story demonstrates how a lifetime of seeking out good in others develops greatness. Towards the end of his life, HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt'l was stricken with an illness that took away his ability to control his speech. Whatever entered his mind came out of his mouth. Eyewitnesses testified that everything he said was positive and complimentary, reflecting all the value he saw in everything and in everyone. Obviously, HaRav Shmuelevitz had programmed his mind to see good all around him.

When we are privileged to spend a brief moment with a godol beYisroel, we often emerge feeling like a million dollars, as if we were the prominent party of the encounter. But in truth, the godol is the important one. So how does he give us that impression? Gedolim come close to viewing people the way Hashem does. They emulate Hashem's ways and can therefore focus on the kovod Hashem in everyone they meet.

How do we approach this lofty goal of finding the value in others? If we internalize the idea that each person's value is based on his potential contribution to Hashem's honor, we will begin to see Hashem's goodness hidden in everyone. Through this we can begin refining our feelings of ahavas Yisroel and concentrate on giving others their truly deserved kovod.

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