A Post Tisha B'Av Thought - To Judge a Book By It's Cover?

We all know the famous English idiom "don't judge a book by its cover". B"H, I was learning a piece by the heilige Kedushas Levi over Tisha B'Av on Megillas Eicha. As I closed the sefer, I noticed for the first time the beautiful quote by the Rebbe imprinted on the cover, which certainly disproves the old saying.

I wanted to share this with you, my friends, in the hopes that we can take this quote with us throughout the year. I'm going to keep it in my wallet and try to look at it every now and then, as a reminder.

Let's listen to his words - they are a lifesaver:

“Behold the Blessed Creator chose only Bnei Yisrael, therefore no one has the right to say anything negative about them, only to Melamed Zechus – teach the merits of Bnei Yisrael.” (Parshas Bo)

“Whosoever does not have a good attribute, that always sees only goodness and straight forwardness in the Jewish people, if he lacks this good and holy trait to constantly tell of and retell the praises of Israel, that Bnei Yisrael should always be praised and exalted in his eyes, and he lacks the trait of advocating meritoriously on the behalf of the Jewish nation, Klal Yisrael, His holy nation. Then he should know that surely he will not merit all the days of his life to enter the gate of Divine Service for Avodas HaBoreh to serve his Creator.” (Pisgamin Kadishin #18)

When I saw this quote, I sat and stared at the sefer for awhile. Wow, I thought. Halevai, if only we could live this, we probably would have been dancing around the Beis HaMikdash yesterday, instead of fasting on Tisha B'Av.

Abbala, H" Yisbarach, please place the Rebbe's words in our hearts and our minds, and help us to be zoche to live his holy words.