Mining the Blessing

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

This week’s Torah portion discusses a skin condition that afflicted a person who had a spiritual shortcoming. Tzoraas, as it is called, could affect a person who spoke Lashon Horah. Such a person, after maligning others,  might find himself afflicted. He would have to be seen by a kohein, who would advise him on a course of teshuva.

Another application of Tzoraas is when a person refused to lend out items that would be useful to others. Perhaps he even denied owning the requested items. Tzoraas might afflict his home. He would have to remove his belongings into the street where all would see the many items that he owned and refused to lend.

Although these two applications of Tzoraas are very different, I believe they share a powerful perspective in overcoming the temptation to speak Lashon Horah.

Often in life we witness a person’s success. We may even be with a group of friends when a successful person is discussed. Invariably, someone will downgrade the success in a clear violation of the laws of Lashon Horah. Instead of rejoicing in another person’s success, some people seem offended by it. But just preaching against Lashon Horah doesn’t complete the task. To truly cure the problem we must develop positive attitudes.

The medrash tells us that the person who gets Tzoraas on his home, is being punished, but he is also being blessed. The nations that lived in the land before the Jews hid their wealth in the walls of their homes. The wealth was hidden so well that the Jews did not know which walls to knock down to find it. When Tzoraas came to a home, the owner had to remove the afflicted stones. When he did so he discovered his treasure.

I believe that this medrash contains a powerful antidote to the Lashon Horah temptation. People may feel stingy and don’t want to benefit others with their money. Or they may feel emotionally stingy, and can’t deal with another person’s success. The Torah teaches, if you will mine your own blessings and discover your treasure, you will be able to deal with other people’s success. By recognizing your own worth, you will have the capacity to rejoice in their successes, and even help them by lending things that they may find useful.

There is an additional perspective regarding Lashon Horah which you may find helpful.

The Talmud relates how two children were killed in the general proximity of a great talmudic sage. The sage considered himself to blame, because his merit and spiritual influence should have protected people in his proximity from tragedy.

This concept is true in a positive sense as well. We should all hope that the people around us- those in our general proximity- should be granted success. Whether they are people who are our relatives, people who attend synagogue or classes with us, or just people who live on the same block as us, we should hope that people who are in our proximity should be granted success. Whether they experience a promotion, are planning home renovations, or any other joyous occasion, their success is yours as well. Their success is something that you hope for. So, when they succeed Hashem is showing his graciousness to you as well. In the words of King David, “One who trusts in G-d shall be surrounded by G-d’s kindness.” Even beyond you as an individual… Hashem’s kindness shall surround you.

This perspective is a very powerful way to combat Lashon Horah, but it takes time to implement this new perception of life. Instead of seeing someone’s success as threatening, view it as the blessing of Hashem that surrounds you. I call this exercise, “mine-ing the blessing,” as you view the blessings of others as your own.

Simply said, people make disparaging remarks of others because they have not yet learned to mine their blessings. Mine your blessings and you will feel confident and joyous to help others with their goals. Even when discussing other people’s blessings: “Mine” them. Implement a perspective that views them as your blessings as well.

You have much to be grateful for.

May Hashem continue to surround you with blessing.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos.

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