tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924559593469631970.post3255766887725243628..comments2023-10-23T11:22:31.216-04:00Comments on Tikkun!: Feet of ClayShmuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08623549507370220071noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924559593469631970.post-2277606046028483972011-08-25T17:33:05.970-04:002011-08-25T17:33:05.970-04:00Middos and erlichkeit are not on the radar for mos...Middos and erlichkeit are not on the radar for most people, committees, etc. Of course, groups like the AishDas Society (yes, a plug for Micha's org) are trying to change that.<br /><br />The fact that the leaders that you wrote about exhibited the traits you observed means there's a glitch in the matrix.<br /><br />The question is, what should be done?<br /><br />With the kiruv person, one can wonder if he would daven the same way, if he was leading ma'ariv at a kiruv seminar for "newbies"? It could be he just was having a bad day.<br /><br />With the second person you've know for a while, it depends if he made dismissive comments in public or private in your presence.<br /><br />As someone who spent almost 8 years working in as a mashgiach for a community vaad, I know that my rav hamachshir (and community Rav) often felt very trapped being in the public eye.<br /><br />Of course, it could simply be that they are not aware of the impact of their actions (like most of us).<br /><br />Most social workers/psychologist will say that it's key to come home in a good mood. Even if you had a bad day at work, put on a smile. Why? B/C when you interact with a spouse or your kids and give the impression of being in bad mood, they think it's a reflection of your feelings towards them.<br /><br />There's reason that R Yisrael Salanter held that one's face is reshus ha'rabim and outworldly showing you're upset is akin to causing damage to the public.Neil Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797772082427806345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924559593469631970.post-67251248039434601012011-08-24T19:30:06.142-04:002011-08-24T19:30:06.142-04:00Neil - I completely understand what you're say...Neil - I completely understand what you're saying. Perhaps I should have been clearer about what distinguishes them even from other talmidei chachamim: these are people who have accepted the yoke of leadership, communal responsibility. They are under public scrutiny always. It would seem that they would be conscious of very basic tenets of "mentschlichkeit"...Shmuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08623549507370220071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924559593469631970.post-55394390169705254622011-08-24T16:54:25.531-04:002011-08-24T16:54:25.531-04:00Shmuel, your phrase, "fact that they are so c...Shmuel, your phrase, "fact that they are so closely associated with Torah..." is telling.<br /><br />Even if one is "closely associated" doesn't mean that are a mentsch. We can hope that we are all in tune to what our strengths and weaknesses are, but that's not always the case.<br /><br />I know someone who is a "gadol b'shas", has a massive library and has learned every sefer in it, but he turns off many because he is quick to dismiss others who are do not follow his derech.<br /><br />The Baal Shem Tov taught that when we see something lacking in others, it is really a reflection of what's lacking in us. I write this only because I am always guilty of this and I see your post as a wake-up call to myself, so with Elul just a week away.<br /><br />Thanks, man!!Neil Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797772082427806345noreply@blogger.com