Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

Brothers should not hit each other

"Cursed be he that smites his friend in secret…" (27, 24)

One day someone asked Iron - why does your voice sound so loud when you are beaten, while when Gold is beaten its voice is not heard so loudly?

Iron replied - the reason is simple: In order to create a piece of jewelry from gold, it is struck with iron, not with gold, which is its brother. The iron which is a stranger strikes him so he does not shout so much when he strikes him. Therefore, no loud sound is heard from the beating!

In contrast, Iron is struck by Iron that is his brother and close to him. Then, the pain is great - the pain that brothers and ones close to one other beat each other. That is why the iron "shouts" very much when another iron strikes it, and as a result its voice is heard loudly! (According to Yalkut Gershuni)

When iron beats iron it is more painful and harder. Let us have patience and refine in our hearts the words of the prophet Yeshaya "Let each one help his neighbor ... to his brother let him say - be strong." Let us help one another and strengthen the bond with our close brothers - those who truly need us.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!