Avraham was famous for the Midda of Chesed. Why do Chazal pick Ayin Tova as the Midda that we should take from Avraham Avinu? For sure we have to copy all kinds of Chasadim in being like Avraham Avinu, but Ayin Tova seems to stand out as the #1 Chesed that you can do for others. Seeing only good is a Shoresh (basis) to all kinds of goodness. Certainly, if you don’t have a good eye and a high opinion of a person, yet you do him a favor, it’s also good.
However, when you see only his good side and you appreciate what he stands for, he likes it much more. There were nations like India who were poor, and they received lots of help and money from the USA; yet they could hate the US anyway because they don’t feel respected. They feel like a low down nebach when they get favors from others.
More Than Anything, A Human Needs Respect and Ayin Tova
More than anything, a human needs respect and Ayin Tova! To become an Ayin Tova needs lots of work and Tefila. We all need to have much more appreciation for our family and friends and teachers and spouses, etc. And this can be a lifetime job! We also need to respect and appreciate ourselves. (see Chazon Ish).
Notice how when Hashem created the world, it says: וַיַרְ א אֱלֹקִים כִי טוֹב “He saw it was good” about 8 times. Look how Hashem appreciates His own work! (Chazal). Dovid HaMelech learned ½ a night and the other ½ he sang (Gemara) to thank Hashem for the Zechus of learning so much Torah (R' Zundel of Salant Zatzal). Doeg and Achitofel were super giants in Torah, and were maybe even greater than Dovid, yet they lost their Olam HaBah. (Gemara)
Not appreciating your own Avodas Hashem and your accomplishments makes a person bitter and angry and far from Hashem. Not having Ayin Tova on yourself and on others is a subtle form of utter cruelty. Imagine saying to someone: “I don’t hold from you”. “I think you are a bad person”. This is a Bilam mentality, and was the source of all his evil. עַיִן רָעָה מִתַלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִלְעָם הָרָשָע Ayin Hara is learned from the school of Bilam HaRasha.
