The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

Bereishis 21:6 And Sarah said, "G-d has made joy for me; whoever hears will rejoice with me." Rashi: will rejoice over me:

"The Midrashic interpretation (Gen. Rabbah 53:8) is: Many barren women were remembered with her; many sick people were healed on that very day; many prayers were answered with hers, and there was much joy in the world."The Passuk informs us that Sorah Immeinu stated after the birth of her only child Yitzchok that "whoever hears (about the birth) will rejoice with me."

The Medrash in full reads: AND SARAH SAID: GOD HAS MADE JOY FOR ME; EVERYONE THAT HEARS WILL REJOICE WITH ME (Gen. 21:6).

R. Berekiah, R. Judah b. R. Simon, and R. Hanan in the name of R. Samuel b. R. Isaac said: If Reuben has cause to rejoice, what does it matter to Simeon? Similarly, if Sarah was remembered, what did it matter to others? Rather, (the Torah is hinting that) when the matriarch Sarah was remembered [gave birth], many other barren women were remembered with her; many deaf gained their hearing; many blind had their eyes opened, many insane became sane.

Chazal, in the Medrash, are bothered by the seemingly audacious and somewhat surprising words of Sorah, "whoever hears will rejoice with me"- After all, asks the Medrash, If Reuben has cause to rejoice, what does it matter to Simeon? Similarly, if Sarah was remembered, what did it matter to others? Why is Sorah so confident that everyone who has heard about the birth of Yitzchok will be happy? Therefore, the Medrash answers that simultaneously with the birth of Yitzchok, everyone had their own personal reasons to be happy. We now understand why Sorah could confidently state, "whoever hears will rejoice with me." After all, everyone had their own Simcha, and they realized it coincided with the miracle birth of Yitzchok to Sorah.

What lesson can we learn and apply to our lives from this incident? Perhaps the Torah is teaching us a lesson in sensitivity to others. The Torah teaches us that although all of us are filled with joy when we are the beneficiaries of the bounty of Hashem, and want to spread the word, nevertheless, discretion is in order. Meaning it's good and natural to share the good news with others. However, the Torah is subtly pointing out that only in a case similar to Sorah Immainu, where the entire world benefited from the miracle of Yitzchok's birth, can one state with assurance, "whoever hears will be happy with me." However, when others are not direct beneficiaries of the Brocha, be sensitive and don't assume "all who hear will be happy for me."

A few years ago, a friend of mine related to me how an acquaintance of his informed him of his daughter's engagement. Both fathers had daughters who were no longer twenty-one. Both fathers had been davening for their daughters. The ecstatic father whose daughter became engaged quickly informed his partner in pain about the good news. He proceeded to do so while stressing repeatedly, "It was a total Nes (miracle) from Hashem!" The man with the not-yet-engaged-daughter was happy for his friend, yet he wondered why his daughter was not worthy of Hashem's divine intervention? His friend's perpetual portrayal of himself as being the worthy beneficiary of Hashem's benevolence caused him to rejoice. Yet, his friends emphasizing of the "miracle" he merited- also caused him pain. The implication was that his daughter and his family were unworthy candidates for Hashem's Brocha.

The Torah states that an unconditional declaration of "All who hear my good news will rejoice with me" is in order only when the case is identical to Sorah. Namely, everyone is indeed the recipient in their own way of Hashem's Brocha. However, if others are not experiencing the same personal benefit from Hashem's Brocha as you are, make sure you temper and moderate your effusive sharing. Take into account that the person you are speaking to has not yet experienced the expected salvation that you have.

While emphasizing and publicizing the Brocha of Hashem is beautiful, doing so without discretion and sensitivity to others can be painful. In the absence of everyone benefitting from Hashem's benevolence, share the good news, however, be sensitive to others who have not yet experienced salvation. Temper and modify your enthusiastic enthusiasm when you tell others.

Remember, more often than not, "less is more."