"Abbaye was wont to say: One should always be clever in [developing] reverence [for Gd]; a soft response dispels rage; one should increase peace with his brothers, relatives and all people, including a non-Jew in the market, to be beloved above and pleasant below, and he will be accepted by people."
מרגלא בפומיה דאביי: לעולם
יהא אדם ערום ביראה, מענה רך משיב חמה ומרבה שלום עם אחיו ועם קרוביו ועם כל אדם,
ואפילו עם נכרי בשוק, כדי שיהא אהוב למעלה ונחמד למטה, ויהא מקובל על הבריות.
(Talmud, Berachot 17a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
How exactly is one to be ערום (tricky) in fear of God?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous-
ReplyDeleteI rendered ערום as "clever" because I don't think it has to have a negative connotation. As I understand it, the message is that one should find strategies to develop his awareness of Gd, and thereby his resonance.