ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם (שלח טו:לט)

The holy Belzer Rebbe Reb Aharon Zt”l was preparing for his Chuppah when he was told that the local squire wanted to honor the occasion by attending the wedding ceremony and blessing the young couple.  After he had heard so much about the grand Rabbi of Belz and also about the groom.  As was the order of the day – he expected to be made welcome, together with his countess.  The Chosson was taken aback by this unwelcome news, knowing full well that – as the Mishna says: “You shall always pray for peace in the realm” – it behooved him to show cordial relations with the local government. Otherwise, there might be dire repercussions for the local Jewish population. On the other hand, though, it bothered him that he would have to shake hands with this personage – on the holiest day of his life.

His father, the Frierdige Rav, said to his son: “It says “ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם.” Why are the eyes mentioned after the heart, when – Chazal teaches us: “’עין רואה ולב חומד” – it all starts with the eyes seeing, causing “the heart to covet?  “The answer is,” – said the holy father to the holy son: “The eyes only see what the heart covets; when the heart is not coveting, the eyes do not see.”