*** Jax’s DT for Thursday***
“The dove came back… and behold, an olive branch… was in its mouth.” (8:11)
When Noach wanted to see if the flood waters had receded to where they could finally get out of the Taiva-Ark, he sent out a dove to look for dry land. The dove returned with an olive branch, indicating that the water level was at least below the treetops. On a Midrashic level, Rashi comments that the dove was hinting the following to Noach, “May my food be bitter as an olive and be provided by Hashem; not sweet as honey and provided by Man.” During its stay on the Taiva-Ark the dove was being fed by Noach. We learn from this that it is always uncomfortable for one to have to rely on the kindness of others. Therefore we must be sensitive to minimize the embarrassment of anyone who receives a kindness from us.
There once was a man known as Yossele Kamztan (Miser). He was the wealthiest man in his village and since most of the residents were impoverished, he received petitions for charity all the time. People would tell him what they needed and why; but, he would abruptly send them off empty handed. When he eventually died, the burial society had a tough time scraping up a minyan to participate in his funeral, for he was so despised, no one wished to attend. Shortly thereafter the Rabbi was flooded with an unusual amount of charity requests. Each person had a similar story: “Every morning, the milkman always brought milk to my door free of charge. Now he has stopped so my children have no milk.” “Every week the butcher would give us a chicken for Shabbos free of charge and now he has stopped. My family has nothing to eat for Shobbos.” “We have very sick child. The doctor used to treat him and give him medicine free of charge. Now he has stopped. What are we to do?” The Rabbi investigated and discovered that Yossele was secretly funding all of these people. When someone would beseech him and tell him of his needs, he would pretend to turn a deaf ear as he “kicked them out.” Afterward he would secretly arrange for whatever the person needed to be delivered to him and he would pay for it. The Rabbi was so taken by this, that he organized the entire community to gather at Yossele’s grave and ask forgiveness from his soul for the way they scorned and despised him. From that time forward he was always referred to as Yossele Tzaddik.
Have a great Shobbos!