The Test of Faith: How Deeply Does It Really Hurt Us?
We often feel hurt when our honor is offended — or even when it is not, but someone simply didn't speak to us respectfully, didn't greet us nicely. A believing Jew will immediately think: Why am I so hurt and protest fervently about my honor and not care as much about the honor of Heaven being desecrated through Shabbat desecration, promiscuity, heresy, and apostasy?
- הרב יעקב ישראל לוגסי
- פורסם כ"ג אייר התשע"ט
(Photo: shutterstock) #VALUE!
There is a story about one of the great rabbis in the diaspora who witnessed a Jew smoking on Shabbat. Being the local rabbi, he slapped him on the cheek. The man took him to a non-Jewish court. When the rabbi was brought to trial, he argued that the man had slapped his father, and thus he had slapped him in return. The plaintiff cried out immediately: Liar! The rabbi is lying!! I slapped your father?! The rabbi replied: Yes, by smoking on Shabbat in public, you slapped my Father in Heaven. The judges understood the rabbi's intent and acquitted him.
The Honor of Heaven
How deeply we are affected when someone touches our honor, or even if they didn't — just by not speaking to us properly, not treating us nicely, or not greeting us kindly. A believing Jew will immediately reflect: Why am I so affected and protest fiercely about my honor, but when it comes to the honor of Heaven violated by Shabbat desecration, promiscuity, heresy, and apostasy, it doesn't bother me as much? One can see from this how much they still need to enhance and strengthen their faith and loyalty in Hashem, to see Him at least as a parent and to protest on His behalf or at least be pained as if their parents were being affronted.
Let's consider, if someone holds a particular person with esteem as a rabbi or leader and recognizes and acknowledges their wisdom, wealth, and strength, how much would it hurt them if they were disrespected and their power was not recognized, especially if this pertains to their own father. Therefore, it is clear we should feel pain about our knowledge of Hashem and His immense power, and His honor being diminished by those who deny and reject Him.
The 'Chafetz Chaim' was moved and shocked by transgression as if it were a plague or malignant disease, or as if he were encountering a snake or a wild beast, feeling physically disturbed by every transgression which embittered the will of Hashem and was a denial of the goodness provided by His creator and benefactor. He could not comprehend how people dare to defy Hashem's word and neglect their mitzvot. ("From the Great Musar")
The article is taken from the book "Living with Faith." To purchase Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi’s book click here.
