Excerpts from the popular shiur by Harav Yehuda Mandel shlit”a from Lakewood
During these days of mourning for the Beis Hamikdash, we need to rectify the sin of baseless hatred, which caused the churban, and this is done by strengthening our ahavas Yisrael.
Each one of us can take upon himself to greet each person with a smile, to speak to others pleasantly and with joy. When we meet a friend, we should tell them with me’or panim, “How are you, my dear friend?”
I was once present when a new rosh yeshivah, who was experiencing certain difficulties, entered the room of the mashgiach Rav Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l. The mashgiach greeted him with such friendliness, and with a voice filled with empathy and a pleasant tone: “How are you?”
In the navi Shmuel (Shmuel II 6:20), after it relates that Dovid Hamelech danced before the Aron, it is describes how Dovid went into his home: “And Dovid returned to bless his home.” This is how we return home — we come with a happy heart and bless everyone.
When Dovid Hamelech spoke with Naval Hakarmeli (before he knew he was a rasha and before he suspected him), he told him, “Please give whatever your hand finds to your servant and to your son, to Dovid!” (Shmuel I 25:8) Dovid Hamelech called himself the “son” of the person to whom he was speaking!
We find that Avraham Avinu acted similarly when he said, “For we are men [who are] brothers!” And Yaakov Avinu spoke in terms of endearment and said to the
