The main reason for the loss of the 2nd Beit Hamikdash as mentioned in numerous traditional sources, was שנאת חינם or – baseless hatred. Acrimony between people – for no (good…) reason.
I have heard many times the term “אהבת חינם” (“Baseless love”) as a “suggested cure” for the sin of besaless animosity. Easy to say. Not so easy to implement .
In this context, I would like to share two real-life stories (one of which I have witnessed myself) showing the אהבה which a real great (and humble) person had for fellow human beings. Rav Avraham Ganechovsky (1936-2012), was one of the greatest minds of the Yeshiva world. He was known for his analytical sharp brain, as well as a colossal treasure of Torah knowledge. But – he was, at the same time also – a tremendous but simple – אוהב את הבריות – he had a total selfless sense of love to people…
Here is the first story :
Rav Avraham was engulfed in studying Gemara in his home, when he heard a constant cry of children from a neighbouring house. Interrupting his learning, Rav Avraham went out to search for the source of crying. Noticing it comes from a particular apartment on the second floor in the next door apartment building, he went up the stairs to try and make the family aware of the “crisis”. – knocked on the door, rang the bell – but there was no answer. Rav A. realised that the parents must have left the house while their children were sleeping (wrong!) and by now – all of them were up, and weeping… Now – I would have gone home and thought about what a reprimand I would give the parents next morning… Not Rav Avraham. He – went home (like me…) and came back carrying with him a big double- ladder. He quickly climbed up the two stories and popped up at the balcony of the crying children, explaining to the surprised toddlers that he is here to play with them and tell them nice stories…. The children were delighted. Rav Avraham (who, in general, would not “waste” a moment besides studying Torah) – stayed with the children for a few hours, until the parents returned home.
TheSecond story is the one I have witnessed myself :
Coming back late at night from Ponivez Yeshiva, I would often take the No. 54 bus on route from Bnei Brak to central Tel Aviv. On one such late night journey, I noticed Rav Avraham was also on the bus. While all the passengers were just in “rest mode” after a long day Rav Avraham was reading from a pocket size Gemara tractate, as for him – every minute counted. The bus stopped at the end of Bnei Brak as some passengers were disembarking. Only one passenger noticed that a young mother was getting off the bus, trying to take the baby pram with her. She was struggling to hold the child and the pram. From all the do-nothing passengers, it was only Rav Avraham who, while concentrating in his Gemara, did notice the young mother’s difficulty, and instantly took the pram off the bus, before returning to his beloved book.
This was a person of real beautiful deep good characteristics. Everyone knew it – besides Rav Avraham himself.
Best wishes
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld