Bilaam tried hard to find something iniquitous about the Jewish People – to no avail. This pasuk is the Scriptural exhortation to look for the positive in every person. While it is clearly the right thing to do, it is often difficult to ferret out the positive when there is so much negativity staring us in the face. The Admor m’Mishkoltz, Shlita, interprets this pasuk in a novel manner. (If) he perceives no iniquity – if he looks for a justifiable rationale for a behavior which appears nefarious, then he will ultimately discover that “his G-d is with him.” Every Jew has that Jewish spark within him. While in some it appears to burn with greater intensity than in others, we all have the “Hashem-component” within us. In some, it is just buried deeper.
A group of concerned members of his community approached the Mishkoltzer during Chol Ha’moed Pesach with a complaint concerning a Jewish storekeeper in Petach Tikvah. Apparently, he was selling chametz on Pesach. While this may seem difficult to accept, it does happen. For those who are unaware – not all Jews are observant. The Rebbe was greatly distressed and said that he would pay the storekeeper a visit.
The Rebbe went to the store and remained outside. He called to the storekeeper, “Tzaddik, Pesach kasher v’sameach, ‘Righteous person, (I wish you) a kosher and happy Pesach.’”
When the storekeeper beheld the presence of the Rebbe, bedecked in his Yom Tov finery, his countenance shining, he immediately ran to the front of the store. When he came over, the Rebbe placed his hand on his shoulder and asked, “How are you, tzaddik?”
The man immediately countered, “Why do you call me a tzaddik? I am anything but righteous. Look at me; you will see that I do not even resemble a righteous person.”
“Do not say this,” the Rebbe said. “Every Jew is a child of the Patriarchs; thus, he has righteousness imbued within him.”
So the Rebbe began and continued until he had explained the laws of Pesach to the man – after which, he promptly shuttered his store for the rest of the Festival.
It all depends on how one approaches another Jew. If he looks for “signs” of G-d within him – he will surely discover them.
