We recently spoke about the concept that a good eye, or a good heart (Rabbi Scheinberg called it a Lev Tov) is important, because that is the root of all good middot. In the book The Mashgiach about Rav Meir Chodosh put out by Artscroll (page 626), it describes a mashal he used to make this point:
“Reuven comes over to Shimon and says,
‘Your son Yaakov started up with another neighborhood child, without provocation.’
And Shimon says, ‘My son Yaakov? Impossible! You’re making a mistake. Please check your facts well before you spread a bad story about my dear son.‘
When it becomes clear, beyond a doubt, that the perpetrator was indeed Yaakov, the father becomes defensive. ‘You have to understand, my Yaakov had a terrible toothache the night before. He couldn’t sleep. That is why he was not able to control himself.‘“
That is the way a person behaves when he hears a negative comment about a person that he really loves.
Rav Chodosh would then raise his voice and say, “If we truly loved one another, would we be prepared to listen to slander about our fellow man? How do we come to have a situation where we do listen? The reason is that we are lacking in Ahavat Yisrael and that’s why we listen to the bad and shameful about others. Therefore, the first step that we have to take is to work on having an Eyin Tova/ a good eye, to see a person’s good qualities and not their flaws. Then we won’t stumble into forbidden speech about people.”
Rav Chodosh said that in the days of Elul, the Elder of Slobodka would say to work on overlooking slights. As it says, “If you overlook the slights of others, Hashem will overlook your slights.” Then, after Rosh Hashana, the Elder of Slobodka would tell them, “ The suggestion that I gave, to overlook slights was a little too difficult. I’m afraid you won’t succeed in that. So I have a new suggestion, work on Eyin Tova/ A good eye, because it says that a person who has a good eye will be blessed.”
Rav Hodosh explained that the Elder was not backing away from his original advice. Rather, he was demonstrating how one could reach the level of being able to overlook a slight. That only happens by cultivating an Eyin Tova. When a person regards others with a benevolent eye and sees his good qualities, he will succeed in overcoming the stumbling blocks that arise in human relationships, and be able to attain the level of overlooking slight.
As the pasuk says:
"On all sins, love covers it up.”
So here we have yet again, another push for
Ahavat Yisrael.