The Re’em’s Feathers
The chassidim in Sanz were once sitting around the table telling stories of tzaddikim when the Divrei Chaim himself came in and said to them, “There is a bird called the re’em whose feet are covered in ugly boils. This embarrasses him so much that he hates his life and feels like ending it. But the Creator gave him a gift, a wondrous, beautiful plumage covering the whole upper half of his body. When he sees his own dazzling feathers, he is comforted and filled with simchah.
“So it is with the body of Klal Yisroel. When we look at ourselves and see how low and unworthy we are, we are filled with sadness and despair. But when we look at the holy tzaddikim and Gedolim, we find comfort and are filled with joy.”
More stories of Rav Chaim Halberstam
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