Rebbe Yochanan Ben Zakai
He always greeted everyone first, and another person would not manage to approach him first with a peace greeting
We should greet an everyone we meet with a friendly face and a kind word. Even if we don't like someone very much, or if people refuse to greet us even people we know are hostile to us.
בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרׇדְפֵֽהוּ׃
Seek peace! Run after it!
Tehillim 35:15
Says King Dawid, and that is what he himself did. Despite King Saul pursuing him and taking his life, Dawid sought ways to make peace with King Saul. Twice HaShem gave him the opportunity to kill him, but he offered him peace.
Let our words be pleasant and agreeable when we greet people.
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners and intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
Gemara Berachot 17a
Sefer Shemirat HaLashon
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