BO:
DVAR TORAH-
In the Torah's description of Makas Bechoros, the Plague of Darkness, the Pasuk says: ... And there was a darkness of gloom throughout the land of Egypt... no man could see his brother, nor could anyone rise from his place..." (10:22-23)
Rav Chanoch of Alexander explained that these verses are hinting an extremely important lesson. If someone is in a state of spiritual Choshech, and he doesn't "see his brother"; he gets so down and out that he begins mistreating his friends because of the feelings that he has about himself, then "Lo Kamu Ish Mitahtav", he will not be able to rise from the rut he is in.
Even when dealing with our own problems, treating our acquaintances with the proper respect is imperative; not only to preserve the relationship that we have with them, but also to preserve the relationship that we have with ourselves and ultimately H-shem.
[INTERESTING POINT - To denote how severe the Plague of Darkness was, the Pasuk says "V'YaMeSH", "And it was palpable". If you take the letters of the word "V'YaMeSH", (Vav, Yud, Mem, and Shin), and go back one letter before each, the letters that you get (Hey, Tes, Lamed, and Resh) spell the word "Hitler". This may or may not be a hint to the darkness which the evil dictator would bring upon the world during the Holocaust, and the Geulah that will be coming shortly, just as the redemption came soon after Makas Choshech.]
STORY-
A chassid of the Imrei Emes was once in Shul preparing himself before Davening when he realized he had left his gartel at home. The Immrei Emes saw his plight and offered the chassid his own. The chassid was taken aback at the offer from the great Rebbe and refused to take it and leave the Rebbe with no gartel. The Rebbe smiled and said "I insist you take it. A gartel is only a Minhag, while Chessed is a D'yoraysa. You take the Minhag, and i'll take the D'yoraysa!"
QUOTES-
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
"How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't live there?"
- Stephen Wright
DVAR TORAH-
In the Torah's description of Makas Bechoros, the Plague of Darkness, the Pasuk says: ... And there was a darkness of gloom throughout the land of Egypt... no man could see his brother, nor could anyone rise from his place..." (10:22-23)
Rav Chanoch of Alexander explained that these verses are hinting an extremely important lesson. If someone is in a state of spiritual Choshech, and he doesn't "see his brother"; he gets so down and out that he begins mistreating his friends because of the feelings that he has about himself, then "Lo Kamu Ish Mitahtav", he will not be able to rise from the rut he is in.
Even when dealing with our own problems, treating our acquaintances with the proper respect is imperative; not only to preserve the relationship that we have with them, but also to preserve the relationship that we have with ourselves and ultimately H-shem.
[INTERESTING POINT - To denote how severe the Plague of Darkness was, the Pasuk says "V'YaMeSH", "And it was palpable". If you take the letters of the word "V'YaMeSH", (Vav, Yud, Mem, and Shin), and go back one letter before each, the letters that you get (Hey, Tes, Lamed, and Resh) spell the word "Hitler". This may or may not be a hint to the darkness which the evil dictator would bring upon the world during the Holocaust, and the Geulah that will be coming shortly, just as the redemption came soon after Makas Choshech.]
STORY-
A chassid of the Imrei Emes was once in Shul preparing himself before Davening when he realized he had left his gartel at home. The Immrei Emes saw his plight and offered the chassid his own. The chassid was taken aback at the offer from the great Rebbe and refused to take it and leave the Rebbe with no gartel. The Rebbe smiled and said "I insist you take it. A gartel is only a Minhag, while Chessed is a D'yoraysa. You take the Minhag, and i'll take the D'yoraysa!"
QUOTES-
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
"How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't live there?"
- Stephen Wright