Ulla and Rav Hisda were
walking and came to the door of Rabbi Hana bar HaNilai. Hisda cried and heaved a great sigh.
“A sigh breaks half a man’s
body,” said Ulla.
“No," responded Hisda. “It breaks my whole body to see the house
where sixty cooks and sixty servants used to prepare food for the needy. Rav Hana used to throw grain – wheat and
barley – on the street for those too proud to come in. And he had four doors just so people could
come and eat. Now it is in ruins and I
sigh.”
And he cried, “It is enough
for the servant to be like the Master.” -Talmud, Berakhot, 58b
What every human being should
try to attain is being like God ("the servant to be like the Master") in that God feeds
the hungry and provides for our needs. It does not matter to God whether we are
worthy or not, the Master always provides.
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