Beit HaBara

A group of people were traveling in a boat. One of them took a drill and began to drill a hole beneath himself.

His companions said to him: "Why are you doing this?" Replied the man: "What concern is it of yours? Am I not drilling under my own place?"

Said they to him: "But you will flood the boat for us all!" (Quoted in Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 4:6).

Gems That Shine
Sivan 27, 5775 · June 14, 2015
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

Every good deed is a precious gem. But even the most brilliant diamond can be caked mud. Rather than shine, it darkens—even obscures—the beauty of the one it is meant to adorn.

When you do something good, forget about the status it may get you, forget about how good it makes you feel, forget about how amazing you are for overcoming every challenge to get this done.

Forget about any other motive in the world other than fulfilling the purpose for which your Creator put you here.

Let your gems shine.

Torat Menachem, vol. 34, Likutei Sichot, vol. 4, Parshat Korach.