Short Stories and Inspiration
A Joke With A Lesson
A group of businessmen and the Starbucks CEO visited and traveled all over Eretz Yisroel.
They also went to meet the great Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l.
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel asked them what lesson can we learn from the Holocaust? One said, “Never again. We need an army to defend ourselves.” Another said, “Rabbi, what do you think?”
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel said, one thing is that we learn that one blanket can cover five people and the strength of giving up for others.
What do I mean? In the concentration camps, every sixth person got a blanket and had to decide should they keep it for themselves or share it. Most Yidden shared it with up to six Yidden, on those hard wooden shelf beds.
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel looked at them and said, “Hashem has given all of you a big blanket, a lot of wealth. Will you keep it for yourselves or share it with Klal Yisrael?”
The head of the group, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, signed a blank check and said, “Rabbi, I want to start helping Klal Yisrael by helping you. Write any amount.”
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel took a pen, and with shaking hands, because he had Parkinson’s disease, wrote $1,200. The CEO asked, “That’s it?” Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel said, “If you really want to help, please go across the street, buy a pair of tefillin, and put them on every day.”
What’s the lesson? 1) He didn’t think about what he could gain and take from this rich man, but instead he was thinking about how he could give – what is really good for the man’s soul. 2) Give what you can, share and help others with your money, your time, and your talent that Hashem gave you, spread the blanket Hashem gave you.
This connects to this week’s parshah:
Avraham davened that Sedom should be saved if there were a few good people, since they would be able to be a positive influence. Avraham taught us that great people try to help others, not just think about how they can gain from them.
The Tosher Rebbe zt”l was once traveling when all of a sudden he told the driver to stop.
He said he has to go visit someone right there. The gabbai followed the Rebbe; he had no clue who lived there, but it was clear the Rebbe came for a reason. The Rebbe knocked on the door, and an older woman opened it, shocked to see the Tosher Rebbe standing there. Her face lit up as she welcomed them in and called her husband that special guests arrived.
The Rebbe asked if their helper had come in the last few days; she said, “Yes, of course.” After a few minutes, the Rebbe left and told the gabbai to send someone with groceries and cleaning help to clean up the house.
The gabbai asked, “How did the Rebbe know they needed this?” The Rebbe said, “It snowed a few days ago and I saw their steps were still completely covered in snow, with not a single footstep, which meant no one came to help them; and in the house I saw that it wasn’t cleaned in a while, it seems she may not realize or remember.”
What’s the lesson? 1) The Rebbe, who was always learning and davening, thinking of Hashem every second, still never forgot to look out for every Yid. 2) Some do kindness, but some live and breathe kindness. The Rebbe taught us not only to be ready to do kindness when asked, but also to look out for them.
Avraham Avinu, who was almost 100 years old, had just done the mitzvah of bris milah and was in tremendous pain, but he still waited by his door, hoping to do a kindness. That’s the right attitude, not just “to do” kindness, but to want and look for it. (Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l)
This connects to this week’s parshah:
What Can We Learn From The Holocaust?
A robber jumped at Yossel, the richest man in the neighborhood, and yelled, “Money or your life!”
Yossel begged, “My money is my life, please, don’t!”
The robber didn’t listen to anything he said, just took his wallet and ran away.
Then he stopped Yanky, a poor man. “Money or your life!” he yelled.
Yanky said, “Sadly… I don’t have money or a life.”
The robber said, “Me too. Don’t let it become my competition here…” and ran off.
What’s the lesson? That’s more important than money? Life.
That’s life. Time. Every second we have is a gift and is worth more than money. Every “time” we use – our own private time to learn, daven, do any mitzvah, and try to connect to Hashem, this shows our love to Hashem and we are truly living and using life to the fullest.
Yanky was so excited that he got a free coupon for a car wash!
His brother Sruly laughed. “Why are you so excited? You don’t even have a car!”
Yanky laughed back at Sruly. “So what? I’ll take an Uber…”
What’s the lesson? Not everyone has a car or everything they want in life. But you can still make the most of what you do have. Find your “free coupons” – the good things Hashem gives you – and appreciate them. Don’t wait for “someday” to enjoy life. Hashem gives everyone blessings right now; you just have to notice them.
