Someone came complaining to the Ben Ish Chai how many Jewish groups in Europe had taken a steep fall. He numerated many flaws in their practice of Judaism, and how there is nothing good left to them.
The Ben Ish Chai was dissatisfied with the complainer, to say the least. “Is this all that you focus on? Is there nothing good left in them? You are acting like a fly! Upon analyzing a fly, you’ll discover how it always gravitates to the garbage — and only garbage. Even if there would be a botanic garden right next to it, it prefers the garbage over that. Other than odorful trash and spoiled meat, it dislikes anything else. That’s how you’re acting right now. Yidden have so many positive qualities to them, and yet all you seem to find is the bad in them.”
“What good is there in a group who are mechallel Shabbos b’farhesiah and eat non-kosher food?” complained the faultfinder.
“Let me tell you a story,” replied the Ben Ish Chai. This was the Rav’s story:
