Food for Thought                         

A group of wealthy Jews owned a factory that produced wines and cheeses. They asked my permission to add my name to the kashrut symbol on their products. They felt that this would increase sales and offered to pay a large sum for this. They added that if I refused, they would ask another organization for their permission, and that organization would get the money instead of me.

At first, I was inclined to agree. What harm could come from allowing my name to grace their products? Their kashrut supervisors were men of yirat Shamayim who certainly oversaw every stage of the production process. The money would surely benefit my Torah institutions.

But, on second thought, I realized that by granting my endorsement to their products, I was, in effect, causing a loss to the competition. Other manufacturers would suffer, as consumers would prefer the products bearing my name. I was in a serious quandary.

In my mind’s eye, I imagined the Torah institutions which would profit from the money and all of the Batei Midrashot which I would build with these funds. But the losses of the other manufacturers gave me no rest.

With deep introspection, I asked myself, “Is my motive in accepting this proposal l’shem Shamayim, or is it for my personal satisfaction?”

Suddenly, I was struck with clarity. I realized that I was motivated by the desire to gain support for my institutions and gain personal pleasure in seeing more places of Torah study established, not for the sake of the kashrut of the products. I realized that it was only the machinations of the Yetzer Hara which were convincing me to accept the suggestion. My approval would likely cause rifts among groups of Jews.

I informed the factory owners that I was declining their kind offer. I never want to profit at another’s expense. And I would never allow myself to be the cause of lashon hara regarding kashrut certifications, especially since many families are supported by these hashgachot. Furthermore, no one could really guarantee that the hashgachah that would be under my name was really superior to the previous one. Much harm could come from this.

Baruch Hashem, I am happy that I did not fall into the trap of the Yetzer Hara. All the edifices of Torah I could have built crumbled in the face of my determination to do what was right.

It is impossible to serve Hashem by means of harming others. You cannot run to kiss the Sefer Torah while stepping on other people’s toes. Acting l’shem Shamayim means acting selflessly, completely for Hashem’s sake.