You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep and hide yourself from them. You shall surely return them to your brother. (Devarim 22:1)

The Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in New York, Rav Henoch Leibowitz, shares an amazing insight from the ibn Ezra on this verse. He says that we are commanded to return a person’s animal at all costs. Even if we are involved in a war, we are required to return this lost animal. The Rosh Yeshiva points out that this does not make much sense. We are involved in a war and risking our own lives. During this time, we have to have care for our fellow brother? I’m in a dangerous situation – how can I be thinking of my brother during a time like this. The Rosh Yeshiva says that we see from here that we always need to care for our brother. Even if our own situation is tough, we need to try to push them aside for a few moments.

There’s an unbelievable story told of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach after the passing of his wife. His wife passed away Friday but because it was too close to Shabbos, she was not able to be buried until after Shabbos. After Shabbos was over, Rav Auerbach began to cry uncontrollably. Rav Auerbach and his wife had great closeness to each other and were masters of Shalom Bayis (marital harmony). Therefore, this was probably one of the most, if not the most, difficult times in his life. He went to the hospital with his son to make the funeral arrangements and probably looked terrible from his sadness. One of his students, who did not know that his rav’s wife just passed away, saw Rav Auerbach in the hallway of the hospital. The student ran over to him and very excitely said that his wife had just given birth to a baby boy. Rav Auerbach immediately put on a huge smile and said “Mazel Tov”. The Rav continued smiling until his student had continued on his way and turned the corner. Then, Rav Auerbach began crying uncontrollably again.

As you read this story, you may have the same impression as when I first heard it: this is not normal. I can’t do this. And that may be correct. This is something for someone on the level of Rav Auerbach. I tell this story, though, to teach us a lesson. If Rav Auerbach could behave that way in that situation, then certainly when we only have a little amount of suffering in our life, we can try to have more care for other people’s sufferings. This is what the Rosh Yeshiva is explaining to us – we must always try to have caring for other people even when our own situation is tough.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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