Emuna Daily

R’ Aryeh Leib, son of the Chofetz Chaim, was a child genius.  Once he had the occasion to present a Talmudic lecture to a group of exceptional scholars, whom he dazzled by resolving a difficult problem raised in the Shaagas Aryeh.  The listeners were impressed and expressed their admiration.  The young Aryeh Leib was flattered and responded, “I hope one day to be able to resolve all of the Shaagas Aryeh’s difficulties.”

Uncharacteristically, the Chofetz Chaim stood up and publicly rebuked his son: “Such talk will never let you develop into a really great scholar.”  When relating this story, R’ Aryeh Leib would say, “And sadly, my father’s words came true.” ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

The Baal Shem Tov taught that man decides his own punishment for his transgressions.  “He is given the opportunity to view someone else doing exactly what he did, in a slightly camouflaged form, and in a fit of righteous indignation he passes sentence.  Only then is the façade lifted, and he realizes that it is he who will receive the punishment.  The fashion in which man judges his friend is in reality the way in which he is judged from Heaven.

It is for this reason that we are taught to judge everyone favorably.  One should not be in a rush to interpret his friend’s actions with severity, for he may actually be passing judgment on himself.  The reverse is also true; one who judges others favorably effects a favorable judgment for himself.” ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

“A person attains a higher level of piety by conquering his anger than he would by fasting a thousand days.” ~ R’ Moshe Leib of Sassov zt”l – Torah Tavlin

In the town of Kelm, home of the famous Talmud Torah, which was the seed bed of the Mussar movement, there was a small general store for the use of the yeshiva students.  In order not to take anyone from his studies to tend the counter, the store operated on the honor system; customers took what they needed and left payment in a cash box.  After a while, it was found that there were overpayments in the box.  Hearing of this, the Alter (Elder), R’ Simcha Zissel, ordered that the store be closed.

He explained.  The reason there was too much money was probably because when the box did not have sufficient small change for customers, they would leave more money as a contribution.  But by the same token, it was possible that people accustomed not to pay the exact amount might one day find themselves with too little money for a purchase, and they would feel entitled to underpay, because they had sometimes overpaid.  This would be dishonest, and a situation that might encourage such a practice could not be continued.  ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury