The Other Side of the Story - To Tell the Truth
The following story I heard from Rabbi Abraham Lipsker of Coney Island, New York. It illustrates that there is almost always a positive way to look at people.
To Tell the Truth
Two friends left the synagogue after prayers one Shabbat with words of praise for the members of their congregation! What holy, upright people we have in our congregation. Soon they passed an outdoor cafe, and recognized a member of the congregation, eating a sandwich! Such a pious man, eating in a cafe on Shabbat? He must have forgotten the day! "We better warn him!" the first exclaimed. But when he spoke to the seated man, he only replied, "I know that today is Shabbat," and went on eating. Then the other noticed it was a cheeseburger, and thought, "He can't realize what he's doing, such an honorable, religious man!" And so he warned him the food was not kosher. But the man replied, "I know," and went on eating. "Perhaps there is a life-threatening reason which compels you to eat right here and now?" they asked. "No," he said, calmly continuing his meal. Nothing they could say would stop him, so they turned, and walked away.
"What a wonderful, holy congregation we have!" said the one. "Yes," the other replied, "Nobody in our congregation is ever capable of telling a lie!"
Phillip Danzig NY, NY
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