The Secret of the Good Point: Within Our Own Actions

In the introduction, I shared that when I studied "Azamra," I wondered why Rabbi Nachman specifically discusses the practical point, the actions in which a person needs to find their goodness. After all, our goodness is also deeply embedded within us, beyond actions, feelings, and even thoughts. Our goodness is who we are.

Like two people trying to dig a tunnel underground, tunneling toward each other, we want to strengthen both the memory of our inner good point, which is absolute goodness, while simultaneously finding the good in our actions. In this way, we can create a continuous line of good consciousness, from the most hidden place within us to the revelation of goodness in our actions.

During Rosh Hashanah in Uman, in the afternoon after prayers concluded, I met a friend who enlightened me. I was happy to see him, but he seemed troubled. When I asked what was wrong, he explained that regardless of his actions, and despite his sincere efforts, he always carried heavy guilt feelings about possibly doing something wrong. "Today, for example," he explained, "I went to the mikveh, went to prayer, and actually had a really good prayer session, but as soon as I left – I felt as if I had come from some terrible place and done terrible deeds. I know I'm fine," he added, "but it still eats at me."

"So why are you smiling?" I asked, noticing the smile that suddenly appeared on his face.

"I'm smiling," he said, "because I remembered something I heard in a class once. Something about 'Azamra,' about the good point. He's trying to trick us, 'the imagination,' or the evil inclination, or whatever you want to call it. He tries to tell us we're not good, and he distorts our thoughts and feelings. But – it's very difficult for him to distort our actions."

"Since I heard that," my friend continued, "every time I feel terrible, I start examining what I've actually done today. If I'm not okay, then alright, I'll check myself and repent. But if I am okay, I refuse to accept these accusations. That's why we need to check what's really happening and make decisions based on that." As he finished speaking, the smile on his face grew.

I thought again about the secret of the good point, and how even though a person can find so much bad within themselves, if they check and search, they might encounter good deeds instead. And these good deeds translate into eternal points. No one can take away the good things we've done. If we helped someone, if we made someone happy, it remains forever. It doesn't disappear. We can always return to it, and through it – to the depth of our goodness.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach z"l is known to many as "the Singing Rabbi." His melodies are now familiar across the entire spectrum of Israeli society, from Kabbalat Shabbat songs to touching melodies that stir the heart. Rabbi Carlebach touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands, perhaps more, worldwide.

Not many know that Rabbi Shlomo was "an artist of the good point." He had a rare talent for finding in every person, whether an African-American homeless person or a senior government official, their good and special point. After his death, many personal stories were collected from people who witnessed his actions. One of these stories, "R' Shlomo and the Muffin," appeared in the book "The Rabbi at the Edge of Town" (Halberstam-Mandelbaum, Y. The Rabbi at the Edge of Town, Amazing Stories about R' Shlomo Carlebach. David Hillel (trans.) Reshimo Publishing, 2009.) and I present it here for you.

And I present it here for you.

"Have you ever been in the company of someone who wholeheartedly praises the virtues of a muffin?" asks Mendel Sternhell. "If not, it means you've never accompanied Shlomo for breakfast at a café!

"We sat in a small, gloomy restaurant owned by a sour-faced cook who also served as the waitress. Usually, I'm not so affected by the appearance of others, but this woman was so ugly, almost repulsive, that it was hard not to notice. Her service was also unpleasant. She served the muffins and coffee we ordered with a stiffness bordering on rudeness, and to tell the truth, I was relieved when she left our table and returned to the counter. After one taste of the muffin, Shlomo signaled for her to return.

"'Yes?' she asked gloomily, hands on her hips defiantly, ready for any trouble.

"'My beautiful friend,' Shlomo said gently, 'did you by chance bake this muffin?'

"'Yes, that's me, what's the matter?' she asked tersely.

"'I just want you to know that this is the most delicious muffin I have ever tasted in my life!'

"A hint of a smile began to appear on the woman's lips.

"'Thank you,' she said, preparing to return to her place.

"'And I also want you to know... that I've eaten muffins all over the world, but none of them even come close to this muffin.'

"'Well, thank you again,' she said, a bit less stiffly, and the corners of her mouth began to show a real smile, but she still hurried back to her place behind the counter.

"'And I really must thank you because I was so hungry, and you did me the biggest favor in the world by baking this muffin with such expertise, that it completely tastes like the world to come!"

"'Well, wow, thank you very much,' she said with a broad smile, now firmly planted in her place. 'That's very nice of you to say. Most people don't say anything when the food is good; you only hear from them when they have complaints!'

"'Ah, but no one could ever complain about your food; gevald, it must be the best food in the world. Tell me, what do you put in this muffin to make it taste so good?'

"At this point, the scowling woman was actually beaming, and launched into a long discussion about her baking and cooking methods. Shlomo listened attentively, and when she finished speaking, he continued to shower her with praise. His compliments were also very detailed: the texture of the muffin was not only soft and airy but also buttery and aromatic, and she had warmed it expertly to exactly the right temperature. As I listened with amusement mixed with amazement to the revered rabbi completing his praise of the muffin, I shifted my gaze to the woman. Until that moment, my eyes had been fixed on Shlomo, so I hadn't noticed the transformation the woman had undergone. When I turned to look at her, I was astonished.

"The ugly woman had vanished as if she had never existed. A few minutes with Shlomo was all it took. She had undergone a complete transformation and had truly become beautiful.

"I learned many things from Shlomo, but one of the most important was gratitude and the art of giving compliments. Perhaps someday, if I work hard enough and reach the appropriate level, I too can acquire Shlomo's blessed talent – to sing a hymn to a muffin and make people beautiful."

From the book "The Secret of the Good Point", by Ran Weber, author, therapist, and workshop facilitator in the spirit of Chassidism. For contact: ranweber@gmail.com

New on the Jewish Campus website – a unique writing workshop with Ran Weber, available for direct online viewing. If you've always wanted to write a book, or just wanted to learn writing in an organized and enlightening way, this is the place. To register for the webinar – first lesson free, click here.