The Extent of Hakaras Hatov

IN the coming months, I suspect we are going to hear a lot about the hakaras hatov that the Jewish community owes to certain politicians for all the good they have done to benefit the United States and Israel. Given that fact, it behooves us to know what the parameters are for the obligation of hakaras hatov.

A story I heard many years involving Rav Aharon Kotler ztz”l, from an eyewitness, casts a great deal of light on that question. An architect had drafted plans for a new building for Beis Medrash Govoha, and one of the yeshivah’s primary supporters came to the office to examine the plans. He immediately began suggesting all sorts of changes: move the kitchen here; place the beis medrash here, etc. Reb Aharon immediately accepted every suggestion that his benefactor made.

The next day the philanthropist was back to look at the plans yet again. He asked Reb Aharon where the shiur rooms were going to be, and he expressed dismay that apparently there were none. Reb Aharon explained that only he said shiurim in the yeshivah, and thus there was no need for shiur rooms. And with that he made clear that the meeting was over.

Those who had been present for both meetings were left bewildered by the contrast between the two, and they posed the question to Reb Aharon: “When he came in yesterday, you immediately accepted every change he suggested, without any resistance. And yet today, you summarily dismissed his suggestion and more or less sent him packing. What changed?”