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116
THE HIGH HOLIDAYS
to a blood closure, are the sharp pains in the arm. Similarly, in
the spiritual ailment, there is a constriction of the arm, an in­
ability to extend one’s helping hand.
In ministering to this ailment, a physician’s major objective
is to reopen the arteries and to once again permit an unimpeded
flow of one’s blood. Digitalis, nitro-glycerin and anti-coagulants
are the stock-in-trade of the medical profession for this illness.
Similarly, in spiritual illness, we are also in need of anti­
coagulants to once again permit the free flow of human compas­
sion. This can only be achieved by a study of Torah and the ob­
servance of Mitzvoth. As regards our community responsibilities,
our Torah tells us:
0 -.‫ז״ג‬1 ‫)ירבריגז‬
‫עא תאמץ את צבבר‬
“Thou ahalt not harden thy heart.’’; regarding one’s relationship
to one’s fellowman. Rabbi Eliezer extolls the Leh Tob, the good
heart as the greatest virtue. (Aboth 2:9); the prophet projects the
ideal blessing of G-d in the following words:
‫והסרתי מהם את צב האב! ונתתי צכם צב ב שר‬
“And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I
will give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26). On Yom Kippur
we refer to the sin of Imutz Haleb and ask the Almighty to give
us a good and responding heart ever sensitive to human needs.
We ask him to remove our stony hearts and replace them with
hearts of flesh.
Our second ailment is Harhor Haleb — a murmuring of the
heart. Medically, this disturbance is not as serious as hardening
of the heart. But it is significant and is regarded as a defect. Ad­
ditional noises and unnecessary sounds emanate from the heart
area. The organ is basically sound and functions properly except
for these disturbing sounds.
Spiritually, this condition refers to people who, though posi­
tively disposed to good causes, nevertheless, continually, criticize,
grumble and express discontent. They basically have good hearts.
They give in toil and money for worthy organizations; but their
murmurings constitute a dampening influence on the organization.