TODAY'S MESSAGE IS DEDICATED
L'ILUY NISHMAT - IN MEMORY OF
 EZRA BEN SARAH A'H
EDDIE J MISHAN
BY HIS WIFE AND FAMILY

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Joshua arrived early on his first day of work in his new position working for a diamond dealer in the famous 47th St Diamond District of New York City.  He didn't know much about diamonds, but was a quick learner and had high hopes for his future in the business.  When he was brought into the polishing room most of the other employees were too busy at their delicate trade to pay much attention to him.  The man who was assigned to start his training received a phone call, and Joshua was left standing perusing all the unpolished stones in the polishing area.  Most of them looked like pieces of glass not worth much to the young apprentice.  When his supervisor hung up the phone he turned to Joshua and said, "So what do you think?"

"I've seen diamonds before, but it doesn't seem to be that you have such a great selection."  He honestly replied.

"If we do our job properly here in the polishing room most of these stones will look very valuable even to your untrained eye once we are done", his new boss smiled knowingly.  "Most of what makes up the value of the diamond is hidden from the naked eye.  Take this to jeweler’s loop in your hands places upon your eye and look inside this particular stone.  Do you see those little black dots?  They reduce the value of the stone by thousands of dollars.  Now take a look at this smaller stone.  You'll notice it has a beautiful color, and even with the jeweler’s loop on your eye you will not see e flaws inside the stone.  It is not until you see the inside of the stone that you can determine its potential value."

"I see what you mean" Joshua acknowledged.

     Too often in people judge others based on their exterior and their trappings.  A fancy car, an expensive suit, or a piece of jewelry clouds the issue.  Not until one is aware of the true inside of a person can one determine that person's true value.  Hashem on the other hand, sees the entire person all at once interior as well as exterior.  He combines that person's behavior and character traits to determine the success or failure of that person and his service to Hashem.  We are commanded in the Torah to emulate the ways of Hashem [Devarim 28:9].  This commandment requires us to look beyond the surface at the unpolished stones which may be before us in the form of another person and to seek knowledge about that person’s character.  Only after you have investigated beyond the surface will you be an expert in evaluating the true worth of your fellow human being

CONSIDER THIS FOR A MINUTE

.When a person is bothered by many thoughts that distract him and bring his concentration to the vanities of this world- he should study a book that teaches fear of Hashem aloud. This will focus his concentration away from the matters that are annoying him.

[R Yitzchak Blazer, Kochvay Ohr, 1:2]