Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 12/9/2016, 5:18 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna in Avos (4:21) says jealousy, desire and honor, remove a person from this world.
Each one of these negative traits we can focus on separately, this week we will start with jealousy.
The simple understanding is that a person who is afflicted with the negative trait of jealousy truly has no life. This negative trait succeeds in effectively removing them from this world because it deprives them of enjoying any of the wonderful things G-d May Bless them with. Any blessing they receive is insufficient and can't be enjoyed because they are filled with jealousy towards that which their neighbor has.
Our Sages say that jealousy causes "the bones to rot" as a person filled with jealousy literally rots internally throughout life.
Most people are afflicted with this negative trait in one form or another but how can we combat it?
A person must understand that everything they have is given to them from G-d, and furthermore that G-d only wants what is best for us. He understands our unique needs and purpose in this world (on a specific level each person has their unique purpose which only they can fulfill). If we have a specific purpose then G-d Makes sure to give us all the "tools" we need to accomplish our purpose. If we look to our friend and wonder why they have the "tools" they have and we don't have the same tools we must realize it is simply because we have different purposes. Rabbi Akiva Tatz gives a wonderful parable to understand this point. Imagine that a contractor hires a bunch of workers to build a building. He hands each one of them a bag which contains tools. The worker who is supposed to build the wood frame to the building is given a hammer, nails and a saw. Next to him is standing the worker who is supposed to paint, he is given a paint brush, a bucket, rollers etc. Do these workers look at each other with jealousy? Does the painter wonder why he wasn't given a hammer instead of a brush? Of course not, there is no jealousy between them because each one realizes their job. In fact they would be extremely upset if they were given the tools of the other person. The problem is that we simply don't always know what exactly is our specific job and purpose in this world, but we must Trust in G-D that we have the tools necessary for our purpose and any other tools would prevent us from accomplishing what we need to do This is the reason that the Angels are not jealous of one another. They have absolute clarity in what their purpose is and they have everything they need to fulfill that purpose.
This understanding might be difficult to realize at times and to internalize.
On a much simpler level when we look at others with jealousy we must realize that we are only seeing part of the picture. We might see their car, house, family, career and be jealous but we are only seeing a small part about this person and his/her life. I am sure we have all realized that there is always much more going on in people's lives than what we think or may know. They may be faced with numerous internal and external struggles in life, and although we may want the car they have, do we want everything that comes along with it as well? The answer is always no!