Be Honest with Yourself

A story about Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the eighteen century Hasidic master.

Rabbi Levi Yitchak was once walking down the street on his way to Yom Kippur services. On this day we are commanded to fast and seek repentance. He happened upon an acquaintance who was enjoying a hearty morning breakfast.

“My son,” the rabbi said softly, “Have you forgotten that today is the Yom Kippur fast?” The man shook his head, smiled, and said, “No. I have not forgotten at all.” Levi Yitzchak hesitated for a moment and responded, “I see. And I assume then that you have a weak heart or must be worried your fasting will be harmful to your health.”

The acquaintance quickly assured the rabbi that this was far from the case and said, “I am in excellent health. My heart is strong.” Hearing this response, Levi Yitzchak didn’t shout or rebuke his friend or even storm away in anger. He did not even show disappointment.

Instead, the rabbi beamed with joy and shouted toward heaven. “Master of the universe! Look how righteous are your people! This Jew here, even though he is not fasting, is so good at heart that he refuses to lie about it.”

Rabbi Levi Yitzhak saw the good instead of the bad. Rather than focusing on the negative, he saw the positive. Let us likewise see the positive in others.

And let us likewise take an honest accounting of our own souls. The Yom Kippur fast is a means to an end. It points us in the direction of bettering ourselves and improving our relationships.

This begins with an honest accounting of our own lives.

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Rebalancing Our Lives