The Value of Another's Faith

In the book, “Rebbe”, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, a story is told of about a young Jewish student of [The] Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson who was hesitant about a lifetime commitment to becoming an ordained Rabbi. He [the student] spoke about his love for culture, fine-art, theatre, and music – all of which he felt might be at odds with the path of a Rabbi. In the refreshingly unpredictable manner of which the Rebbe was known for, he answered.

“Imagine two people, both of whom have spent their lives carrying stones. One carries rocks, the other diamonds. Now imagine that they are both asked to carry a consignment of emeralds. To the man who has spent his life transporting rocks, emeralds too are rocks – a burden, a weight. After a lifetime, that is how he sees what he is asked to carry. But to a man who spent his lifetime carrying diamonds, emeralds too are precious stones – different to be sure, but still things of value and beauty. So it is with different civilizations and faiths. To the person for whom faith is just a burden, so too are other faiths. He does not value his own. How then can he value someone else’s? His may be diamonds, the other emeralds, but he sees the beauty in each.”- The Rebbe. “Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History”. Author – Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

In short, the value of your faith will heighten your ability to appreciate the value of another’s faith.