A few minutes later, Mr. Herschenstein left the post office to see Rabbi Greenblatt standing outside waiting for him.
“Hi Rabbi, what are you still doing here?” he asked.
“My dear friend,” Rabbi Greenblatt said. “I must talk to you about your anger. You know, it is a terrible thing to get angry like that. It’s not good for your health or your soul.”
“I know, I know, my wife always tells me the same thing. But how do I destroy my anger?”
“Destroy it? You don’t want to destroy it,” Rabbi Greenblatt said. “You know, the holiest of all of the Tribes of Israel is Shevet Levi. Why is that? Well Levi got angry after a man named Shechem kidnapped his sister and, along with his brother Shimon, wiped out the entire city.
“Now, Yaakov Avinu didn’t approve of this. He strongly rebuked Shimon and Levi and even cursed their anger. But did Levi get rid of his anger? Oh no, he learned to use it. Years later, when the Jews created the golden calf, it was the Tribe of Levi who made a stand to defend Hashem’s honor.
“Only this time, they used their anger to take action in the way that Hashem approved.”
No Need to Entire Rid Oneself of Anger
Mr. Herschenstein’s eyes widened. “So, you mean I don’t have to get rid of my anger, I only need to channel it correctly?”
“Exactly,” Rabbi Greenblatt answered. “Anger used in the wrong way is extremely dangerous. But like anything else, if done properly you can use it to serve Hashem and become great.”
“Would your Chumash shiur help me learn how to properly use my anger for good?”
“It would be a great start,” Rabbi Greenblatt said with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning bright and early!”
Have a Wonderful Shabbos
Reprinted from the Parshas Bamidbar 5784 email of Toras Avigdor Junior, adapted from the teachings of Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l.
