Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch, son and successor of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, was known for his unusual powers of concentration. While engaged in study or prayer, he did not hear or see anything around him.

Once, while deeply immersed in study, Rabbi DovBer’s baby, who had been sleeping in a nearby cradle, fell out and began to cry. Rabbi DovBer was so immersed that he did not hear the baby’s cries and continued studying.

The infant’s grandfather, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, was on an upper floor of the house and was also studying, yet he heard the baby’s cries. He interrupted his studies, went downstairs, soothed the infant, and returned it to its cradle. Rabbi DovBer still did not notice.

Later, Rabbi Schneur Zalman reprimanded his son, “No matter how lofty a Jew’s pursuits, he must always hear the cry of a child.”

This story was told not only to those who must take care of children: parents, teachers and other adults, but also to children, for this story has an important lesson for children as well.

Everyone has a “Good Inclination,” rooted in the Divine soul, that plants good thoughts into a Jew’s head, and an “Evil Inclination,” rooted in the animal soul, that plants bad thoughts into his head. The Evil Inclination is the “older” one, for it comes early in the life of every child to tempt him to do things he shouldn’t. The Good Inclination is the “baby.”

Sometimes, just when a child should do something important, such as studying, homework, and the like, he desires to do something else, which may be good in its proper time, but is not appropriate now.

For example, when it is time to do homework, the child wants to put his room in order, or run an errand. Worse still, the Evil Inclination tempts him to do something he should never do. The Good Inclination “baby” then feels cast out of its cradle, unhappy, and begins to cry.

This story reminds us to hear the cry of the “baby” - the Good Inclination - and bring it fulfillment by doing the right thing at the right time, and not the wrong thing at any time.

-Based on a letter of the Rebbe dated 17 Shvat 5723