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Friday

י"ט אדר ב’ התשפ"ד

Friday
י"ט אדר ב’ התשפ"ד

חיפוש בארכיון

332. Advice

It says in Mishlei, “One who listens to advice is a wise man, and salvation comes with much consultation!”. It follows that it is extremely good for a person to have a close friend who will give him advice, and he should not rely on his own knowledge, for all people are deceitful and two are better than one. Even a great man should take advice from a lesser man, as we find when Hashem said “Let us make a man!”, where it seems to appear as if He is consulting the serving angels, to teach people that where there are no elders and wise men to consult with, one should take advice from lesser men.

However, this adviser must be a trustworthy friend, as if not, it would be better not to take advice from him, in case he gives bad advice.

It is correct for a person to give wholeheartedly good advice even to his enemy, and even if through the good advice which he gives to his friend he himself will lose out he should not worry as Hashem will repay him with a double goodness as a reward. If after all this he still is worried about the harm which will be caused to him, he should still make sure not to give his friend bad advice. Instead, he should withhold himself completely from the matter, and say to his friend that he has no advice to give him.

With each of the pieces of advice that a person hears, discusses and considers, he should pray to Hashem that He should give him the correct advice, and the advice of Hashem is that which will last.

“My brothers and my nation, take this sefer Torah, and with this, and like this learn well, so that you should have it good; listen and enliven your soul, and achieve gladness and joy in this world and the world to come” (From the author’s intro.)