“The Mirror” is a classic story in “The Call of the Shofar” by Chana Sharfstein, one of the earliest Kehot (or any publisher) Jewish children’s books. I read that story, that book, over and over as a child and it left a deep impression. The illustrations, in blue and black ink (maybe full-color printing costed more back then) by Zalman Kleinman are a little haunting and melancholy (esp the story of the orphan girl, or the boy lost in the snow) but these illustrations set the stories in a time and place.
See the original story by Chana Sharfstein here on Chabad.org or just google: The Mirror Chana Sharfstein Chabad.org
Or here it is in simpler form:
There was once a poor Jew named Avraham. He owned a small shop in a town somewhere in Eastern Europe. He bought and sold but hardly made money. He and his family lived a simple life. But he had a good heart and he was a kind and giving person. One day, as he was standing at the door of his shop a man came through and stopped by. This visitor was a righteous tzadik, his name was Reb Moshe Leib of Sasov. Reb Avraham welcomed him in, offered the traveler a drink and a bite to eat and was very kind to the visiting stranger. This Rebbe was very impressed with Avraham’s good heart and generosity, despite his limited circumstances. Before he left back on the road on the way to a wedding, the Rebbe blessed Avraham with wealth, so he could continue to be generous to others, with greater means and resources.
After that Rebbe’s visit, Avraham’s business picked up. More customers came into the shop, he made more sales and was able to buy more goods. He expanded his store, hired employees, and was on his way to becoming a wealthy man. He was now quite busy, he had a thriving prosperous businesses. He opened up new satellite stores and built himself a fine house on the main street in town.
But his newfound wealth changed him. Instead of being behind the counter greeting customers and getting to know them personally, he worked in a busy office shielded by secretaries, buyers and managers. He hardly had time for people anymore. Back in his poor days he was kind and generous and thoughtful, but now, without any intention to change, he was out of touch with ordinary people and didn’t have the time or frame of mind for charitable endeavors.
Word got back to the Rebbe Moshe Leib of Sassov that his blessing of wealth seemed to have the opposite of the desired effect. So the Rebbe came back for a visit. Avraham was delighted to see the Rebbe. He was thankful for that incredible blessing and his change of fortune. He was eager to show the Rebbe his new mansion, taking him from room to room, showing him spacious places and the fine furniture. They finally came back to the living room that faced the street.
Avraham was very happy to show the Rebbe an ornate mirror in the living room. It was gilded and gorgeous. Avraham told him that it was imported, not just a plain mirror, but a masterpiece. The Rebbe asked him, “Come, who do you see in the mirror?” “Why, myself!” Avraham answered, a little puzzled at the simple question. What else do you see asked the Rebbe. Avraham looked deeper into the mirror. I see my furnishings, I see my home…
Then Rebbe Moshe Leib turned to the large picture window and looked out onto the street. He asked Avraham about the various townsfolk who passed by. Who is this one, and that one? Avraham said that this one had a large family but not enough income, the other person was disabled and could no longer work, this one just celebrated the birth of a child, and that one just lost a parent to a long illness…
Rebbe Moshe Leib then asked him, “I don’t understand. The window is made of glass, and the mirror is made of glass. Why is it that when you look at the mirror you see all these people on the street and know all of their life stories, but when you look into a mirror, all you see is yourself? What’s the difference between the glass of the mirror, and the glass of the window?”
Avraham smiled at the Rebbe’s ignorance but proceeded to explain: “Rebbe, the mirror has a backing. There is a silver finish behind the glass that doesn’t let you see behind it…” and then it dawned on him. He realized what the Rebbe was getting at. Avraham was only seeing himself because of a silver lining of wealth. He had been out of touch with others. He lost his focus, his special touch. He got the message.
That night he made a huge party in his home. He invited all the townsfolk, and apologized for how he had been acting. He promised to bring back the warm, engaging, kind and generous Avraham he had been before the blessing of wealth.
And at the end of the party, he took a pocketknife, and went to the back of that expensive mirror. He scraped off one corner so the glass would be transparent, and a constant reminder to him of Rebbe Moshe Leib’s message.
Judaism is NOT against money. In the 1950’s the Rebbe visited the Gan Israel overnight camp in the Catskills. Over the canteen there was a sign that read (in jest): “Money is the root of all evil, leave your evil here.” The Rebbe asked that it be taken down because, even in jest, it might send the wrong message to kids.
Avraham didn’t scrape off the whole mirror. He scraped off one corner, as a reminder and inspiration, making that corner transparent to see others, so that all the rest of the silver and money in his life should have meaning and purpose.