The True Friend

Fair-weather friends, if they were honest, would talk like this: "It's easy to be your friend, just so long as it doesn't cost me anything or take me out of my comfort zone." That of course, is not a friend at all, let alone a true friend.

True friendship has a price-tag ��� it's called empathy, the ability to feel the other person, to know when to give a pat on the back or a word of encouragement. True friendship means that you feel when the other person needs you and you're there for him/her. You're not too tired or too busy. A true friend pays the price of true friendship, even if it means sitting up all night to help or listen to the other person.

Unsurprisingly, the best spouses and best parents are first of all true friends to their partners and children.

This week's shiur will help you rethink and reboot your relationships, whether you're married and/or a parent or not. It will also teach an important parameter to consider when picking a prospective soul-mate or best friend. We'll learn what the Torah says about true friends, and it's an eye-opener...

Don't miss today's emuna lesson and live broadcast from Jerusalem entitled "The True Friend", which will take place, G-d willing, on the ground-floor main sanctuary of the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva on 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street in Jerusalem at 7 PM Israel time; the shiur is open to the public - both men and women are invited. You can see today's lesson here - the broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in on time.  If you are not able to view today's broadcast live, then G-d willing, you'll be able to see the video tape of it later this coming week on Lazer Beams.