"Rabbi Bernie King tells the story of Rabbi Shlomo Carlbach speaking to members of Manhattan's Diamond Dealers Club. He was challenged by one of the attendees as to why he wasted so much time with lowlifes and crazies. Reb Shlomo responded by asking the group whether they have ever accidentally thrown out a million-dollar diamond in the rough. 'Never!' shouted the group, 'An expert would know the worth of that which he held in his hand.'

" 'I'll let you in on a little secret, my friends, Reb Shlomo responded softly. 'I'm also an expert on diamonds. I walk the streets every day, and all I see are the most precious diamonds walking past me. Some of them you have to pick up from the gutter and polish a bit. But once you do, oh how they shine! So you see, the most important thing you have to know in life is that everyone, everyone, is a diamond in the rough.' "

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