Be Machmir For Yourself, Not Others - The Chofetz Chaim's Lesson From Avraham Avinu

Okay, yesterday I was at Maariv, somebody came over to me, "Oh, the shiur was I gave it over already to 10 people." I said, "Which one?" "This shiur, the Chofetz Chaim, the we did a 1 and 1/2 minute Chofetz Chaim on how Terach set out to go to Charan and he didn't make it. Avraham Avinu Vayeitzei Lecha Artza Canaan Vayavo El Artza Canaan." That that somebody told me that it really resonated very powerfully with him. One short idea from the Chofetz Chaim Biladi Rakesh Achlu Hanaram. Melech Sedom says Avram Ten Li Hanefesh Veharachush Kach Lach. "Give me the people, you take the possessions." Avram said, "No, no, chas v'shalom, Biladi. Whatever my soldiers benefited from, that will be for them and that's it. I'm not taking anything. I don't want anyone to say that you made me wealthy." So, what's Avram saying? Avram's saying he doesn't say I'm not going to take a penny. He says "I personally won't take a penny. My men who already benefited, I want you to let them have what they took." Says the Chofetz Chaim, Kavanas Hateiva Biladi Hi Lelamdeinu. The intention of the word Biladi is to teach Shelo Atzmi Hechmir Avraham Avinu Beyoser. Avraham Avinu was very machmir with himself. Livli Lehanos Melech Sedom. Not to get benefit from the king of Sedom Michut V'ad Sroch Na'al, from a string to a shoestring. Avraham Avinu would not take a penny. Ulam Benai Hagel V'Avraham Anashav Itayu. Regarding the the young men and the others who accompanied him, V'Ahem Lo Hechmir. Avraham Avinu was not machmir. Hein Yikchu Chelkam. They were able to take their share. Lelamdecha Sheharashus B'Yad Kol Achad Lehaachmir Leatzmo V'Lo Leacheirim. A person has permission to be machmir for themselves and not on others. Being machmir is very good for yourself, not for others. You have no right to be machmir for others. You can be machmir for yourself. Part of the idea is what the Alter of Slabodka would say, "Yenum's gashmius is your ruchnius." Other people's comfort and well-being is your spirituality. You worry about your ruchnius and you worry about the other person's gashmius. As you may know, one of my pet peeves is on a fast day, I don't like when people wish, "Have a meaningful fast." It's none of your business whether I have a meaningful fast. You worry whether I have an easy fast. You have a meaningful fast. You could say, "I wish I have a meaningful fast. You should have an easy fast." Now, there are mitzvahs of tochacha. Like, if you see somebody with a phone, you're obligated to tell them to remove it from the shul. But when it comes to a chumra, [snorts] a chumra, the a stringent practice, so that's for you, not not for to impose on other people. Have a great day. And if you eat a donut for breakfast, um Yirei Shamayim will see whether tomorrow whether Yirei Shamayim should eat bread first and why does bread patter it? Why does bread patter it? >> Tomorrow we're going to have a donut correspondent? >> [laughter] >> Ah. Okay, what do you got someone? >> I got to go to Dunkin' Donuts today. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Duncan, we need Mr. Duncan. >> Who Who's Mr. Duncan? You know him? All right, um Pinchas, you could get the local Duncan guy. >> I want to go to Dunkin' Donuts.