Hi,
I was asked to clarify the last few lines of yesterday’s “Torah Minute.”
I wrote them as “deadline” was approaching!
“… We’re not likely to ever meet an angel.
But the more acts of kindness we choose to do?
The more we choose to elevate our lives?
The less it matters!”
… I was asked. The less what matters?
Here’s what I meant.
The less it matters that we will never meet an angel.
Because the more we elevate our lives, the less impressive an angel becomes!
And, if anything, an angel would love to meet us!
… An angel does not have the challenge to avoid Lashon Harah. Gossip.
But we sure do!
And here’s what one of the greatest Torah scholars of the 18th Century said.
He was called the Gaon (genius) of Vilna.
Because he had total mastery of the entire Torah, Talmud, and Kaballah.
(In case you were looking for a bigger authority on angels than Moshe Katz!)
“For each moment that a person refrains from speaking Lashon Harah…
He merits a spiritual light that no angel can fathom!”
Pretty powerful. But why?
Because we struggle over a “juicy” piece of gossip and can choose to keep quiet!
The angel doesn’t have the struggle.
… When someone is a little down?
Could really use a kind word.
And we would love to stop. But we’re “very busy.”
We struggle.
And we choose to stop? And maybe take a shorter lunch break?
We’ve done something an angel can’t!
… “You never stand as tall as when you bend down to help someone.”
Judaism takes it a step further.
An angel never stands as tall as a human being that bends down to help someone!”
All the best,