Every now and then it happens to us. We are sure that we are doing the right thing 'reasonably', or 'so common sense says', and suddenly someone else comes along with 'more common sense', and with a stronger 'reason', and leaves us speechless...
In the story that will be told in the following lines, it is a matter concerning 'spirituality', which, as mentioned, 'common sense', 'logic', and all the good things we have in our heads have spoken their mind unequivocally, but...
Well, why not start early? Let's get started.
Let's start by saying that I heard the story from a completely reliable source. A good friend, to whom one of the 'heroes' of the story, told the story.
About forty years ago...
In one of the cities of Israel, two ultra-Orthodox families lived next door to each other. As is the custom of neighbors, the children would not refrain from playing with each other, sometimes in this family's house, sometimes in that family's house. Thus they lived happily until...
One day, the father of one of our families became mentally ill. Every treatment offered to him failed to produce good results - and the situation only worsened.
The only option on the horizon to calm and soothe the man's nerves was nothing less than...television!
Television, for the young people we raised, was a nuisance back then, in those years, just like the iPhone and its ilk are today.
But the experts, anyway, Think Because the images flashing rapidly on the screen would make it easier for the man. And indeed, it wasn't long before a large television landed in the man's living room, to the chagrin of all the family members, who, in addition to the father's illness, had to deal with a device they didn't like... to say the least.
The neighboring family decided, according to 'common sense,' that there was no way out of excluding the children from the family that had 'taken on a new form,' even though this was not their wish at all.
The patriarch of the family had a habit of "making excuses," and from time to time he would make a pilgrimage to the great Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt"l, to ask for advice and blessings.
On one occasion, he raised the issue of the neighbors, who, out of grief, were forced to bring the 'black box' into their home, and his children should stay away from this family, he said firmly 'in Peshita' before his great rabbi.
Wait a minute... Hisa Rabu.
What about 'neighbors'? There is a 'neighborhood' movement [in Shoruk], where it is not nice or respectful to do that to neighbors.
- But Your Honor, the television... exclaimed our informant.
- Slow down, said the genius, and did they put the television on for the children?
- No.
- If so, there is absolutely no reason to do this to your neighbors. Therefore, if while your children are at home, the device is closed and covered with a map, there is no good reason to cut off your ties with them. You should return to your previous custom and maintain proper neighborly relations with them.
At the same time, it is clear to everyone that if the children were watching on the device, or God forbid, allowed the neighbors' children to watch - the answer would be completely different.
•
Regarding stories like these, I say that many of us, from the depths of the earth, are not just 'wiser,' 'more intelligent,' 'more righteous,' and.... more.
But they are simply Something else, some kind of new creation that came here, like a meteor passing through this world, and every similar story, always reinforces this feeling for me, personally.
If we are first like angels...
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
