measuring Ahavas and Yiras Hashem

Today, the fifth of Kislev, is the 80th Yartzeit of Hagaon Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz Zatztal. His son-in-law Hagaon Rav Reuven Grozovsky Zatztal, related the following:

Rav Yisroel Salanter once remarked; Why do the wicked ones hate the righteous, more than the righteous hate the wicked? He answered; we are not as righteous as they are wicked. Rav Baruch Ber explained; the wicked ones hatred is based purely on bad character traits, thus no great effort is demanded to obtain the hatred. On the other hand, the despising that the righteous have for the wicked, is based on an abundance of Ahavas Hashem, which needs to be attained. He added; I measure my Ahavas and Yiras Hashem by the degree to which I despise evil.

When Bocherim who were protesting the actions of Zionist youth were hit by them, Rav Boruch Ber said; It is Min HaShamayim, in order that Bnei Torah should understand to distance themselves from Zionism. It is comparable to one who wants to distance his son from a dog, he incites the dog to scare his son, and this teaches him to stay away. He added; You see, this is Zionism, when you take-up the battle for Kovod Shamayim, then they strike you.

the Sentry