Hi rabbi, I have a question. If I have bad thoughts and feelings does that make me a bad person?
For example, I gave my friend's name for a job opportunity in my office and when he got the job I felt upset. The reason I felt upset is because my chances of being promoted were slim once my very accomplished and well known friend was hired. I never expressed the way I really felt to him or anyone else, and just pretended I was excited that he got the job. Does it make me a bad person if had bad thought or feelings yet I never acted on them?
This question also goes beyond the example I provided. Thank you in advance for your help.
No. You are not a bad person. The main defining factor is your actions, not your feelings.
That means that you did a wonderful Mitzva. The truth is that your emotions and feelings are testimony to how great your actions really were. What you did would have been a great Mitzva if you had wanted to advance your friend's work prospects - imagine how much greater it was in the Eyes of God that, in your heart, you were not so enthusiastic about doing it but you did it anyway.
