In this week’s Parsha we learn that if one solitary soldier feels fear or anxiety, he must be sent home (Devarim 20:8). We are afraid that he will lower the morale of his fellow soldiers and that his misgiving and apprehension will spread to other troops. The entire battalion may be weakened by one person’s feebleness or nervousness.
I heard a powerful and inspiring lesson from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita: The Imrei Emes writes If one lame person can affect a cavalry and lower the morale of an entire company, how much more so can a positive person create a boon and raise the morale of his environment. One smile, one good deed, one word of Torah, or one encouraging compliment can be contagious and uplift an entire group! This, says the Imrei Emes, is the power of the Yid, the strength of a Jew, to positively transform his surroundings.
In today’s day and age, especially during Chodesh Elul, it is critical and crucial to be surrounded by people that are effusive in their love for Hashem and are working towards becoming even greater Ovdei Hashem, servants of Hashem. We must work on our Ahavas Yisroel – Loving our fellow Jews – Our holy brothers and sisters. We have the power to positively transform our surroundings!
The Chofetz Chaim writes (Ahavas Yisroel, Ch. 2) that we are constantly praying for the Beis HaMikdash, but we neglect to contemplate the cause of its destruction, which was hatred for an unjustifiable reason. Therefore, if we want the Beis HaMikdash to be rebuilt, we must rectify this sin and love all Jews, no matter their background. When will Hashem redeem us and have mercy? When we have Ahavas Yisroel and love one another.
I once read a story about the Beis Aharon: The Beis Aharon once told one of his Chasidim to go outside and to see what is going on and then tell the rest of the Chasidim what he saw. The Chasid returned and said, “I saw two drunkards walking. One of them said to the other, ‘Let’s hold onto each other so we don’t fall.” Turning to his Chasidim the Rebbe exclaimed, “Did you hear what he said? If you hold onto each other, you won’t fall down! The nations of the world can’t harm the Jewish nation when we are all united, Bachdus, in unity, in harmony, and in love!
