** This Dvar is dedicated L'ilui Nishmat R' Yaakov Menachem Munish ben Natan Ressler ** This Lelamed Dvar is also available in your local App Store (iTunes and Android). As you hopefully enjoy this Dvar, it would be nice to share these thoughts (and quote) with as many people as you can think of, either via email which I will gladly include in these distributions, or by word-of-mouth... _______________________________________________ In Parshat Vayechi, part of the blessing that Yaakov gives to his son Yehuda is that “His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk” (49:12), scion of the royal lineage of the Jewish people. While wine has always been associated with royalty, what does the color white and milk have to do with the future kings of the Jewish people? The Gemara (Kesuvos 111a) has a fascinating interpretation of this verse; "Better is the one who shows the white of his teeth (i.e. in a smile) to his friend, than the one who gives him milk to drink." In other words, giving someone a smile is better than giving them milk. Rabbi Zweig explains that this is because one who provides milk to the poor provides a physical gift that sustains the person for a little while. However, the one who comforts others with a smile and encouraging words gives that person an everlasting feeling of self-worth. Perhaps this is the inspiration for all the great smile quotes, and could help inspire us to "give" more smiles. Shlomo Ressler _______________________________________________ Quotation of the Week: “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”