5783/2023

This week’s Parashah states: “את־עמיתך תוכיח הוכח" “,You shall rebuke your fellow man" (Vayikra 19:17). The Gemara notes that we are required to attempt to correct others even one hundred times (Bava Metzia 31a). The Chofetz Chayim said that this teaches us that we should not hold back from trying to help someone improve even if we think that the person will not listen to us. The Chofetz Chayim provided an analogy of a person selling apples on a corner of a busy street. Although many people passed by without purchasing any apples, the vendor still called out, "Apples for sale, apples for sale!” One might ask the seller: "Why do you keep calling out that you are selling apples when so many people pass by without buying from you?" The apple seller would reply: "Yes, most people do not buy apples from me, but every once in a while someone does. It is from those individuals who do buy from me that I make a living." When selling to people who pass by, even if only one in a hundred makes a purchase, it is worthwhile to keep trying. This, too, applies when it comes to having a positive influence on others. Even if only one person in a hundred improves because of what you tell him, it is worthwhile to make every effort to positively influence others. (Chofetz Chayim al Hatorah, pp. 160-1) One who tries to have a positive influence on others might feel unhelpful when he spends time and energy trying to influence someone and that person doesn’t change. But, if a person knows that he will make an enormous profit from making a sale or negotiating a deal he will keep trying even if he is frequently unsuccessful. All he needs to do is to be successful a few times and he will become wealthy. He should not focus on the times when things do not go well, rather he should focus on his previous successes and this will motivate him to keep trying in the future. The zechut for having a positive influence on others is so great that even if you are only successful a few times your entire life, all your efforts are worthwhile.