Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmihayu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 3/18/2016, 4:54 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna in Avos (3;10) says (Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa) He used to say "whoever the spirit of people are pleased with the spirit of Hashem is Pleased with, whoever the spirit of people is not pleased with the spirit of Hashem is also not pleased with ".
The commentators dispute how to explain this Mishna.
1) If Hashem is pleased with a person and he finds favor in Hashem's Eyes, then Hashem will put it in the hearts of other people to look and treat this person with favor as well. This would mean that the way people relate and treat you is a sign and reflection of how Hashem Looks at you.
2) If as person finds favor in other people's eyes then Hashem finds this favorable and he will find favor in Hashem's Eyes as well.
This means finding favor in people's eyes is a cause (not a sign) of attaining a higher spiritual level.
With either explanation the finding favor in people's eyes only includes people that are upright and righteous. Obviously finding favor in the eyes of the wicked is (generally) not a good thing. We must always strive though to help and be kindhearted in order to find favor in the eyes of the upright and righteous.
There is a story about a woman who came to the Chafetz Chaim one of the greatest Rabbis of pre-war Europe, and whose decisions in Jewish Law have been adapted by all.
This woman complained that her husband is a truly kind person and is always trying to help out everyone he can, but his efforts have put a great strain on her personally. She wanted to hear the advice that the great sage would give her. After listening intently to all of the woman's complaints he told her the following: There are some truly kindnatured people who always help everyone and as a result are always suffering due to everyone around them. On the other hand there are people with wicked natures and these people cause suffering to everyone around them. After a person dies and goes to Heaven, it is much better for them to announce that "here is so-and-so who dedicated his life to helping people and suffered at their hands (as a result)", than for them to announce "here is so-and-so who everyone suffered at his hands."
May we all chose to find favor in the eyes of others and help them even if we "suffer" this is much better than being a person who everyone else suffers from.