The Rebbe was once speaking about strife and said: Why do people worry when others speak against them? It is because opposition can cause a person to fall from his level, Heaven forbid.
The Talmud teaches that the Great Assembly wanted to count King Solomon among those who have no portion in the World to Come. Only King David’s intercession saved him.318Sanhedrin 104b; Rashi ad loc., “Ve-od." We see that they had the power to cast out King Solomon with their words.
It is written in the words of King David: “Princes have persecuted me for nothing, but my heart trembles at Your word” (Psalms 119:161). “Princes have persecuted me” – but I know that it is “for nothing.” They can accomplish absolutely nothing with their opposition.
I know this because “my heart trembles at Your word.” I still have the fear of Heaven and have not fallen from my level. This is a sign that their persecution was in vain. “Princes have persecuted me for nothing.”
שָׁמַעְתִּי בִּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁדִּבֵּר בְּעִנְיַן מַחֲלֹקֶת, וְאָמַר: שֶׁלִּכְאוֹרָה מַאי אִכְפַּת שֶׁזֶּה מְדַבֵּר עַל זֶה?, אַךְ בֶּאֱמֶת עַל יְדֵי מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁחוֹלְקִים עַל אֶחָד, יְכוֹלִין ח"ו לְהַפִּיל אוֹתוֹ מִמַּדְרֵגָתוֹ ח"ו.
The Rebbe was once speaking about strife and said: Why do people worry when others speak against them? It is because opposition can cause a person to fall from his level, Heaven forbid.
וּכְעֵין שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל, שֶׁרָצוּ לִמְנוֹת גַּם אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ ע"ה וְכוּ' עַד שֶׁבָּא דָּוִד וְנִשְׁתַּטַּח לִפְנֵיהֶם וְכוּ' (סַנְהֶדְרִין קד:). כִּי הָיָה לָהֶם כֹּחַ לִדְחוֹתוֹ ח"ו, עַל יְדֵי דִּבּוּרֵיהֶם.
The Talmud teaches that the Great Assembly wanted to count King Solomon among those who have no portion in the World to Come. Only King David’s intercession saved him.318Sanhedrin 104b; Rashi ad loc., “Ve-od." We see that they had the power to cast out King Solomon with their words.
וְאָמַר שֶׁזֶּה שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ ע"ה: "שָׂרִים רְדָפוּנִי חִנָּם (תְּהִלִּים קיט), הַיְנוּ שֶׁגְּדוֹלִים וְשָׂרִים רְדָפוּנִי, אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא בְּחִנָּם שֶׁאֵינָם פּוֹעֲלִים כְּלָל בְּמַחֲלֻקְתָּם עָלַי.
It is written in the words of King David: “Princes have persecuted me for nothing, but my heart trembles at Your word” (Psalms 119:161). “Princes have persecuted me” – but I know that it is “for nothing.” They can accomplish absolutely nothing with their opposition.
וְהַסִּימָן: כִּי "וּמִדְּבָרְךָ פָּחַד לִבִּי". שֶׁאֲנִי מְפַחֵד מִדְּבָרֶיךָ. דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם וְאֵינִי נוֹפֵל מִמַּדְרֵגָתִי ח"ו. וְזֶה סִימָן שֶׁהָרְדִיפָה שֶׁלָּהֶם חִנָּם, בְּחִינַת "שָׂרִים רְדָפוּנִי חִנָּם".
I know this because “my heart trembles at Your word.” I still have the fear of Heaven and have not fallen from my level. This is a sign that their persecution was in vain. “Princes have persecuted me for nothing.”