I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

Is it possible to be genuinely generous and charitable, yet mean and unkind at the same time? The answer has to be yes! Many people are happy to be generous to others less fortunate than themselves, but are still resentful and unkind to people in a better position than themselves. They cannot tolerate other people being more successful than themselves, but will be quite kind, to people who are in difficulties and need their help.
As we find ourselves on the threshold of the three weeks, it is salutary to remember, the second Temple was destroyed because as the Talmud puts it (Yoma 9), “They were busy with Torah, Mitzvos and Kindness, but had amongst them needless hatred”: Both things at the same time!
There is a wonderful quality of Ayin Tov which is the opposite of this. It includes not being concerned to keep up with the “Joneses” at all. We might want things and strive for them because we like them, but not because other people have them. Ayin Tov means to be really happy, about another person`s prosperity and success.
Bilaam was shaken to the core of his being, when he saw the tents of the Jewish people arranged in a way that prevented them looking in to one another`s homes (see Rashi). They had no interest in monitoring how well everyone else was doing. He was inspired to give the blessing Ma Tovu …. “How good are your tents …”. Because there was no envy amongst them, the divine presence would be found in their homes .
In the words of King Solomon “Tov Ayin Hu Yevorach”-He who looks benignly at other people, will be blessed (Proverbs 22,9). Or as the Kotsker Rebbe pithily put it, “ If I am (what ever I am) and you are (whatever you are), because I am myself and you are yourself, then I am I and you are you. But if I am because you are, then I am not I and you are not you.

SOURCES; Sefer Matnas Chayim (Maamorim 2) & Sefer Hamussar Vehadaas by Rabbi A. Yoffen.

QUESTION FOR THE WEEK;

In Chapter 22 Verse 4, it says Bilaam looked at some of the (Jewish) people. How could he see them, were they not surounded by the clouds of glory?

ANSWER;
The Targum Yonasan says he saw some of the tribe of Dan. They were carrying an idol called Pesel Micah. Therefore they were not protected by the clouds of glory.

SOURCES; Sefer Sucas Dovid.

If you have any comments, answers, or information, on any of the above, please E-mail me, or tell me.

My E-mail address is mail@rabbij.plus.com

Have a wonderful Shabbos

Jacob Rubinstein (Rabbi)