Two Jesters in the Market
Asked who in a crowded market had a share in the World to Come, Eliyahu pointed to a jailer who looked like a gentile and to two jesters.
Rav Beroka of Chozai often stood in the market of Bei Lefet, and Eliyahu HaNavi would appear to him there. One day he asked Eliyahu: of everyone in this market, is there anyone who has a share in the World to Come? Eliyahu said no. Just then a man passed wearing black shoes, without the techeles thread of tzitzis on his cloak. That man, Eliyahu said, has a share in the World to Come.
Rebbi Beroka ran after him and asked what he did. Come back tomorrow, the man said, I have no time now. The next day he explained. He was a jailer. He kept the men and the women apart and slept between them so that no sin would happen, and when the gentiles set their eyes on a Jewish girl, he risked his life to save her. He dressed like a gentile so that no one would know he was a Jew, and whenever a decree was issued against the Jews he hurried to tell the chachamim, so that they could pray for it to be annulled. Yesterday, he said, a decree had just come out, and he had run to warn them.
Meanwhile two brothers came into the market, and Eliyahu said: these two also have a share in the World to Come. Rebbi Beroka asked them what they did. We are jesters, they said. We cheer up people who are sad, and when we see two people quarreling, we work hard to make peace between them.
Source: Gemara, Ta'anis 22a (Talmud Bavli). English: The William Davidson Talmud (Koren–Steinsaltz).
The two brothers had no title and no rank, only a habit of lifting people up and making peace. This week, look for someone whose face looks heavy: a coworker, a neighbor, a child after a hard day. Say something warm or light that might make them smile. And if you know two people who are not speaking, find one small, gentle step that could bring them closer, a kind word about one to the other, or an invitation to both.