#mussar

[dafyomilimerick]

Bava Batra 58

What things should a Torah sage choose To store under their bed? Only shoes. (Just one pair, for next season). But the boor for some reason Crams that space full of stuff that he'll lose.

[urielthegolem]

“The man of Bitachon [Trust/Trust in G-d] can turn away from all of life’s problems for he knows that he will not want. What he must provide for the needs of the body, he does in peace and contentment for he knows that no one can take away what the Creator allotted to him. In times of danger he does not tremble. He walks securely and does not fear for tomorrow, for as long as he relies on the Almighty, he has everything”

--Rabbi Yosef Yozel Hurwitz, the Alter of Novarodok, in "Everyday Holiness" by Alan Morinis

[nerdyqueerandjewish]

From one of the books I’m reading, Everyday Holiness, in the section on Anavah/Humility, and how this middot is in the middle between the two extremes of arrogance and self-debasement.

“Arrogance has an insatiable appetite for space. It claims. It occupies. It sprawls. It suffocates others. Every statement in its voice begins with “I.” The opposite extreme is self debasement. Shrinking from occupying any space whatsoever, it retracts meekly inside itself. It’s statements would never dare to being with “I,” although, in fact, if we listen carefully, they all do, because, whether we see ourselves as nothing or as everything, we are still preoccupied with the self, and both of these traits are, therefore, forms of narcissism. In Jewish terms, they are two variations on the theme of idolatry. Both extremes - whether we see ourselves as a god or a worm - are severe distortions of truth. Neither express humility. Neither is true so neither reflects accurate self-knowledge. The truth is toward the middle range, where there is room for self and other.”

It’s really a bummer that the English word humility is often perceived as negative because of its closeness to humiliation, because the concept imo is very helpful.

[rickwhite]

Beshalach: Preparing for Sinai: The Mitzvot of Marah

Even before the Torah was revealed at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people received several mitzvot at a place called Marah:

“They came to Marah... there God taught them a decree and a law, and there He tested them.” (Exod. 16:23-25)

According to Sanhedrin 56b, one of the mitzvot that God taught at Marah was the mitzvah of Shabbat. It appears that Marah was a prelude of sorts for receiving the Torah at Sinai. How did the mitzvah of Shabbat prepare them for the Sinaitic revelation? And in what way was Marah a “test” for the Jewish people?

Preparing to Receive the Torah

The area was called Marah because the waters there were bitter (mar).

“When Moses cried out to God, He showed him a certain tree. Moses threw it in the water, and the water became sweet” (Exod. 15:25).

When a person is ill, that which is sweet may taste bitter. Such was the case with the waters of Marah, which appeared to be bitter, but were in fact sweet. This is a metaphor for the Torah itself — its laws are sweet to those with a pure soul and a refined character, yet bitter and burdensome to those with a coarser nature (Maimonides, Hilchot De'ot 2:1).

Marah laid the groundwork for Sinai by reinforcing the traits of kindness and compassion that characterize the Jewish people (Yevamot 79a). The people would then be ready to receive the Torah, as their moral state would allow them to appreciate the sweetness of the Torah’s laws.

How did the mitzvah of Shabbat accomplish this?

Even though the Sabbath commemorates the creation of the universe, it was not given to all of humanity. Shabbat is a special gift for the Jewish people (Sanhedrin 58b). Why is that?

The Test of Marah

To bolster social order and cohesion, it is important that people are actively engaged in working for their livelihood. Work and business interactions help build relationships and trust between individuals and groups. Even if two people would not ordinarily be inclined to like one another, work can provide a platform for them to bridge any divides, as it is in their mutual interest to collaborate.

If people are not working together, however, these incentives are no longer present. It is human nature to prioritize one’s own interests. Without an impetus to gain the good will of others, people tend to revert to self-centered tendencies.1

This was the test of Marah. The Jewish people were given the Sabbath day of rest — would they discover within themselves an innate quality of compassion? Would they remain considerate and accommodating to one another, despite the lack of material benefit to be gained from kindness on the day of rest?

The seven mitzvot of the Noahide Code, which are binding upon all of humanity, do not demand the refinement of human nature. They only require the avoidance of evil. The Torah, however, was given to the Jewish people in order to elevate them to be a holy people. The ethical ideals of Israel cannot be based on expediency and personal gain, but on a love for “that which is good and proper in the eyes of God” (Deut. 12:28). Therefore, it was necessary to bolster the foundations for their innate goodness. In this way, the mitzvot of Marah paved the way for the Torah’s revelation at Sinai.

Adapted from Otzarot HaRe’iyah vol. II, pp. 172-173) Illustration image: The Sabbath Rest (Samuel Hirszenberg, 1894)

1 We have seen how social distancing measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic have caused "major problems in the economic, social, political and psychological spheres... The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has caused widespread unrest in society and unprecedented changes in lifestyle, work and social interactions, and increasing social distance has severely affected human relations.” ('Social Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Systematic Review.’ Invest Educ Enferm. 2022)

[santandreas]

repost-History versus Prophetic mussar.

Author Mosckerr History: the study of past dead generations vs. Prophetic Mussar – the rebuke to all generations living. The Hebrew T’NaCH includes Torah Prophets and Holy Writings. The relationship of the Holy Writings to the Torah and Prophets compares to the relationship the Gemarah of the Talmud has with the Mishna. The T’NaCH does not include any Books of History as the alien Xtian…

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[graceintorah]

A Wise Woman Builds Her House Virtual Conference

A Wise Woman Builds Her House Virtual Conference

You are invited to join me over at The Rooted Kafe for a FREE virtual conference Sunday November 5th, 2023. “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” (Proverbs 14:1, NASB) Are you a builder? As woman, you are whether you realize it or not. How do we ensure that all of our hard work for our spouse, children, spiritual communities, and the secular world is…

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[frumteenclassics]

 Logic is not enough. Involving your kishkas in Judaism is a career in itself. It involves creating a relationship with Hashem. Think in terms of "If my father was a holocaust survivor, would I brandish a Nazi swastika in my room? So, too, Hashem, my creator Who gives me life every moment of the day, hates pritzus, so how can I have inappropriate literature in my room?"

Think, when you make a Brachah, in terms of thanking Hashem for the food that He created for you.

Think, when you say Birchas HaShachar in the morning, in terms of thanking Hashem for each item you make a Brachah on.

Matir Asurim: He let you live in a free country.

Zokef Kefufim: He allows you to be whole and healthy.

Pokeach Ivrim: he gave you sight. Color vision, even.

If you get used to understanding the meaning behind what you are saying and doing, you will see that you really have a close relationship with Hashem. That eventually becomes very emotional.

I would also suggest that you get a hold of a sefer, called Chovas HaTalmidim, by Rav Klonimus Kalman Shapiro, the Piasetzna Rebbe, and Rav of the Warsaw ghetto. They also have it in English, "The Student's Obligation", by Aronson Publishers. It discusses this topic in there, and it is made specifically for students.

[frumteenclassics]

Mussar needs to be learned over and over and over for that to happen.

The mesilas yeshorim opens his Sefer by saying that he is not writing anything people do not know already. But merely reminding people of that which they do know.

Just knowing Tochachah will not always mean action will follow.

Rav Yisroel Salanter ZTL used to have his Talmidim sit and chant one line of Mussar over and over like a mantra. The idea of Mussar is that is must penetrate you. Not merely be known by you.

Use Gedarim Siyagim, and focus on one idea at a time. And spend time on the idea until it sinks in.

Don’t worry that it doesn’t happen right away. It’s not meant to.

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Use the Sefer Orchos Tzadikim. Follow his program and work Middah by Middah, according to the order of the Sefer.

An alternate idea is to do the same thing, but with the Mesilas Yeshorim.

The difference between the two Seforim, in this sense, is, Orchos Tzadikim focuses on improving the person one Middah at a time, whereas Mesilas Yeshorim focuses on improving the total person, little by little.

It's 12 of this or a dozen of that. Take whichever approach you think works better for you.