By Ilya Magid

Editor Steven C. Siegel

Jealousy

1. General Situation

I live in the complex of buildings, named Genesis, Ulin, Leventhal, for elderly people. Those buildings have one big courtyard. In those buildings only people over 62 year of age can occupy apartments. People from 62 to 100 years old live there. Our community consists of Chinese, American and a large community of people from the Former Soviet Union (Jews and non- Jews).

The Leventhal and Ulin buildings are similar. They have one-bedroom apartments and studios, but in Leventhal some apartments have a balcony. One person is may occupied a studio and a couple may occupy a one -bedroom apartment. Genesis has only one-bedroom apartments and the size is lager than in Ulin and Leventhal. Both single people and couples receive one-bedroom apartments. It is nearly impossible to move from one apartment to another apartment within the complex. We have to be on a waiting list for an apartment in Genesis for 7 years but for Leventhl and Ulin only 3 years.

2. Reasons for Jealousy

All residents receive similar income and they pay only 30% of their income for the apartment. Each has enough money for food for himself and another. I think that an apartment is a subject of jealousy, but it is not apparent. I think people in Genesis feel that they have more prestige than people in Leventhal and Ulin. (I live in Ulin).

The majority of people do not appear to be jealous, but some people I think demonstrate it. Many of our tenants who are disabled walk out doors in the yard. That is not so good for other people who might appear stronger and who might get in the way of the disabled people.

3. How I responded to a showing of Jealousy

Sometimes I don't answer or I answer with the words of some songs from known Russian songs, "We're comrades all so let us share our glory" or "No envy other person, if he is in spectacles".
First is the line from a poem, "Aloud and Straight" V. Mayakovsky, 1930. The full sentence is:

            "We're comrades all-
                           so let us share our glory,
             One common monument
                           let's have
                                   to tell our glory,
            in socialism
                           build battle for all time."

Second, That is the last sentence of a poem by Agnia Barto
                                          
Glasses

That poem is about two brothers Dima, 6 years old and Serogja, 10 years old. Poor Dima envied Seregja. He all time is younger than Seregja. He desided every thing for Seregja. Right now a doctor prescribe Seregja glasses, because he was near-sighted. The next day poor Dima became blind. He cried, " I am near sighted, I have to go to the doctor, I can't see at all". The doctor showed him chocolate. Dima cried, "I don't want chocolate, I can't see chocolate". The doctor told him firmly, it is not necessary for you have glasses.

Moral - Do not envy another person, if he wears glasses.

4. Some examples of jealousy

For many years I collected examples, which I think manifest Jealousy.

      a). She, "Fine fellow, you often go out to walk."
            I, "We're comrades all-so let us share our glory"
            She, "I don't begrudge you. If you had a million dollars, I would             begrudge you."
            I, "I wouldn't begrudge you, even if you had a million. If you would give             some money to Israel, I would respect you."

      b). He, "All the time you walk. Sit down with us"
           Other time I met him walking. He said, "You walk more than any other            person"
           I, "Except you, when I go out I see you walking also."
           He argued with me.
          The next time I met him walking I said to him, "I am glad to see you           walking. Walking is a sign of good health. I am not jealous of you".
          He answered nothing.

     c). In my apartment another person said to me. "Why do you not write           now?"
          I, "Right now is Sabbath."
          Later he said, "Nobody will read those stories. All that you wrote is           useless business".

     d). The old woman said to me, "You go to the Computer Center as if it            were a job."

      e). Some people asked me, "Why don't you have Russian TV. It is a pity             that you do not pay $40 a month. It is so interesting. If you were a             stupid man, I could understand."

       f). My wife walked down under the staircase (that was Shabbat). On the            fourth floor she met a man (he is older than my wife by 10 years). His            wife began to use a wheel chair.
           He asked my wife, "From what floor did you come?" She was silent.            He asked, "The 5th floor?"
           My wife said, "No."
           The conversation was continuing.
           From the 6th? "No"
           From the 7th? "No"
           From the 8th? "No"
           From the 9t? "Yes."

      g). She "Good man, all the time you walk more than anyone else."
            I, "You are more best woman." (In the morning I often see her, near            my windows). "We're comrades all-so let us share our glory…My wife            asked me, why you write all the time. Go walking more,"
           She, "What do you write? Do you practice English? Do you write what            you know about irregular verbs?
           I, "Yes I do."
           She, "Did you hear our neighbor Maria died. She studied English and            knew it well."
           I, "All people will die, knowing and not knowing English".
           She, "I watch only English channels."

      h). He, (right now he sits all the time on the chair.) "I will offend you. You            are putting on weight."
           Later, he forgets that and repeated that phrase.
           The scale shows that my weight was the same.

       i). Learned man, "What do you do?"
           I, "I try to write stories. What else am I to do?
           Man, "Read books."
           I, (That is anecdote.) Chuksha man was asked, "Do you read            Tolstoi?" He answered, "I am not a reader, but I am a writer."

       j). She, "You walk all day. Later she changed the length of the walk to            only one hour and now continues the conversation, "How many            kilometers do you walk?
           I, "10-15 kilometers. I recently fell and lost consciousness. My            neighbor Dora sat me on a chair, thank you. The doctor told me," You            have to walk without any other exercise."

This type of Jealousy is only 'child Jealousy'. It is more serious if an envious man has given you false advice about medicine or has power to abolish your job (some time nobody knows who acts that way).

In that case G-d is the Judge.

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