Someone once approached the Rebbe and asked simply: “What exactly do you do? And why are you admired by so many?”
The Rebbe replied: “I try to be a good friend.”
Incredulous, the man blurted out: “A friend? That’s all you do?!”
Unfazed, the Rebbe responded with a question of his own: “How many friends do you have?”
“I have many.”
“Let me define a friend for you, and then tell me how many friends you have. A friend is someone in whose presence you can think aloud without worrying about being taken advantage of.A friend is someone who suffers with you when you are in pain and rejoices in your joy. A friend is someone who looks out for you, and always has your best interests in mind. In fact, a true friend is like an extension of yourself.”
The Rebbe then asked with a smile: “Now tell me, how many friends like that do you have?”
Not everyone can become a Rebbe or Rabbi...But we can all strive to be better friends & this is the attitude and mindset we need to adopt to each other in our lives, in both the ordinary and spiritual, practical and day to day.
