Vayikra

As we enter sefer Vayikra, we are taught about the mitzvos of korbanos, sacrifices. The first one mentioned is the קרבן עולה which gets offered on the mizbeach & is totally consumed.

The Torah ends the first section of עולה by saying , 'עלה אשה ריח ניחוח לה a fire offering, a satisfying aroma to Hashem.

Rashi explains the word ניחוח to mean contentment, that Hashem gets pleasure from us because we did His bidding.

The כוה"ק explains each word separately. The word עולה means to go up, that we should always be refining & raising our character traits & actions. The word אשה to be strong as the passage in Yeshaya states  זכרו זאת והתאוששו , meaning to be strong in your convictions & not to be influenced by the outside world or let doubt enter your heart. The words ריח ניחוח mean that Hashem should desire your actions and want your good deeds.  
How do we merit to have Hashem desire our deeds?

The sefer ברכי נפשי relates an incredible story that happened at the wedding of רב אברהם דב אויערבך , the son of רבי שלמה זלמן  & the daughter of the rabbi of the city of Tveria רבי אשר וורנר.  

As can be expected  at a wedding of the children of two great leaders, there were many great rabbis & important people in attendance. All was going smoothly until after the chupa when everyone sat down to eat. There was a commotion from the kitchen as it became known that all the fish that was to be served had spoiled!

That might not seem so bad to us for there's never just one thing to eat at a wedding. However, at that time, that was all there was & now there would be nothing to eat!  

Imagine if that would happen to us, our anger and resentment at the caterer. We would confront him saying how could you do this to me, to embarrass me in front of all my guests etc.

What did רבי שלמה זלמן do? He went quietly over to the caterer & said my mechutin & I had agreed to each pay half of the wedding but now that the food is spoiled, I'm afraid he won't want to pay all of his part. Let me pay you now for the entire wedding in order that you don't lose out.

Incredible as that is, the owner replied to רבי שלמה זלמן that just a few minutes before, the mechutin came in & said almost the same words, offering to pay the entire wedding because you might feel you don't have to!

This, says רב זילברשטיין  is how our gedolim act, people whose whole desire in life is to find favor in Hashem’s eyes. They know that one of the ways to do so is by looking away from things, even if it means not getting what's rightfully yours. Even under those conditions, you’re careful that someone else shouldn't get hurt; that's what Hashem desires that we do.

For most people to do something like that is all but impossible. However, this story indicates to what extent we should be willing to forgo even what's rightfully ours. This is what we should strive for and by so doing we will ensure that Hashem will desire what we do too!