Our Gemara on Amud Beis references a verse in Mishlei (15:15): “A good heart is consistently drinking.” The Gemara interprets this to mean that a person with a “good heart” has a certain equanimity, a disposition that enables them to handle stress and challenges without becoming overwhelmed. Rather than a call for literal intoxication, the verse points to a state of inner resilience and composure.

Rav Uri Grossman, citing the teachings of Rav Shem Klinberg (Oholei Shem, Balak), highlights that only two organs are described as “good” in the Torah: the heart and the eyes. This connection between the heart and the eyes is profound, rooted in the Torah’s view of human desire. As Rashi (Bamidbar 15:9) quotes from Midrash Tanchuma, “The heart and the eyes are the ‘spies’ of the body — the eye sees, the heart covets, and the body commits the sin.” This hierarchy implies that the eyes, as the first to perceive, stimulate the heart’s desires, leading ultimately to action.

Thus, having a “good heart” also necessitates having “good eyes.” But what does this mean? One might assume that eyes are neutral observers, simply capturing images, neither good nor bad. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. Psychology and neuroscience suggest that perception is highly filtered and influenced by our attitudes and beliefs. Although our eyes capture all stimuli within sight, our minds selectively process and interpret what we see. For instance, visual illusions show how perception can be manipulated, and studies on auditory perception reveal that we tune in to certain sounds while ignoring others—like how we may hear our name called in a noisy room even if we weren’t consciously listening for it.

In a similar vein, the way we “see” things is influenced by our emotional and mental states. An open and kind-hearted person may interpret situations or facial expressions more positively, while a suspicious or fearful person may perceive the same scenes more darkly. This is why having “good eyes” isn’t just about physical sight; it’s about cultivating a perspective that allows us to see the world with empathy and positivity, which in turn fosters a “good heart.”

In the words of the Gemara, then, a person with a “good heart” is like one who is “constantly drinking”—in the sense that they are nourished and sustained by a positive and resilient mindset, able to face life with balance and kindness.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

Do you like what you see? Please subscribe and also forward any articles you enjoy to your friends, (enemies too, why not?)