Medicine As Sweet As Honey

I chose this for the end, since it summarizes a practical path for all of us, albeit one contrary to human nature. We naturally tend to discern all that is ugly and fight against it—a bitter medicine indeed. Instead, the Baal Shem Tov and his students teach us, discern the good that can undoubtedly be found within each person, each thing and each event, cherish that good and allow it to shine. In this way, in all your ways you will rejoice.

The Baal Shem Tov taught that in every word you speak, you should intend to subdue, distinguish and sweeten. Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka explained:

This means that you must let go of the harsh approach of finding fault with everyone and instead enter a mode of compassion, seeking out the positive.

Even if you do see something repugnant in another person, you must realize that this too is for good—your own good. The very fact that you noticed it demonstrates that there is some trace of this despicable trait in you as well. Now you can repent from even the thought of it.

If so, this is all for your own good: If you were alone in the world, you would think that you were pious. Now that you see these faults in another person, you are able to realize that they are in you as well.

Rabbi Yaacov Yosef of Polnoye commented: It seems to me that this is one meaning of the verse, “It is not good that man is alone”—because then he would never recognize his faults. Therefore, “I will make for him a helper against him”—meaning that G‑d provides us other people that oppose us, so that we might see that we have a trace of whatever ills we see in them.

Therefore, if you have a bad neighbor who is disturbing you from your prayers or from studying Torah, or if you are bothered by any other sort of disturbance, speak to your heart, saying, “This is for my own good. It must be that my intentions were not earnest enough. This disturbance was sent to me to provide me that self awareness and spur me to greater sincerity.”

There are more examples, and every wise person should hear and add his own lessons.

The main thing is to understand that G‑d is found in every place and in all your activities. When you think this way, you will be able to recognize the Creator’s involvement, blessed be He, in every incident of life—just as in your studies and in your prayer…

The key is to abandon sadness and embrace joy. Our master, R’ Nachman of Horodenka, told me about the dream he had when he was in the Land of Israel. He was apprehensive about returning to the Diaspora for reasons known only to him. But then he had a vision in a dream. He was told that although there are many doctors who medicate their patients with bitter potions, yet the better doctor heals through medicine as sweet as honey.

This is precisely what we were discussing, that through fasts, self-affliction and pressuring yourself to relentless study, sadness prevails, and you fall into the trap of finding fault with everyone else who, instead of behaving like you, abandons the opportunity of eternal life for the transient life of the material world. Think of the story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son when they left the cave, as mentioned in the Talmud, so that a voice had to sound from heaven, “Return to your cave!” This is medication with bitter waters.

And then there is the alternative form of healing, where even as you notice the faults of another, you realize that this is for your own self-improvement. This is healing as sweet as honey, awakening compassion for the world and for every person. It extends from an awareness that G‑d is in every particular thing.

Now you have a painless medicine, a path for yourself that is both delicious and aromatic.

How delightful are the words of the wise!

—Keter Shem Tov 302; from Toldot Yaakov Yosef, p. 731b