The first one happened roughly 180 years ago – the second one, yesterday…
First story : Rebbe Moshe Leib of Sassov used to tell his chassidim that he learned what it means to love a fellow from two Russian peasants. Once he came to an inn, where two thoroughly drunk Russian peasants were sitting at a table, draining the last drops from a bottle of strong Ukrainian vodka. One of them, in a slurred drunken voice, yelled to his friend, “Igor! Do you love me?” Igor, somewhat surprised by the question, answered, “Of course Ivan, of course I love you!” “No no”, insisted Ivan, “Do you really love me, really?!” Igor, now feeling a bit cornered, assured him, “What do you think? I don’t love you? Of course I love you. You’re my best friend Ivan!” “Oh yes, yes?” countered Ivan. “if you really loved me … then why don’t you know what hurts me and the pain I have in my heart?”
Second story: Yesterday I was standing in a nice shop in town, waiting to pay. The couple in front of me were dressed with worn out clothes, and looked extremely poor. They wanted to buy a present for their mother, for the forthcoming festive season. The vendor said to them : “How much do you want to spend? 30, 50 or a Hundred Euros?” The man replied “Money is not important. We want something which will make her happy….” Subsequently purchasing an expensive item… How many people would think, say, and act with such true warmth ? I learned a lesson in ואהבת לרעך כמוך And love your neighbor as yourself and כיבוד אם honor your mother …
Warm regards and Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Chaim Michael