THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF A JEW : REFINING HIS CHARACTER TRAITS. And the message of Chanuka: celebration of the light of morality By Rabbi Michael Gutmacher We could also say that what makes a Jew a real Jew is when he works on becoming a better human being. The Satan does everything so that you forget this every second of your life. You should always be aware of it. And obviously work on it. You have to understand also the greatest portion of your Olam Haba comes through this difficult work of refining yourself and it is a life long task As our Rabbis say: it is harder to change one Middah than to learn the whole Talmud. So I included here a few sources about the fact that Middos is the Most important thing in Judaism and then ways to change from a human, to a Jew and then into a Tzelem Elokim. I have seen from experience that the Satan brings routine even when working on Middos , so by changing programs and patterns (on how to refine our character traits) it stays exciting and alive with the help of Hashem. May Hashem help you and may we merit the coming of Moshiach out of Love. THE CHASHIVUS OF MIDDOS SOURCES Clinging to G-d SIFREI “For if you surely keep all of the mitzvot that I command you to do, to love Hashem your G-d, to walk in all of His ways and to cling to Him.” – (Devarim 11:22) “These are the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it says: Hashem, Hashem, merciful and showing favor, long suffering and full of lovingkindness and truth, . . . (Shemot 34:6) and it says, All those who call the name of Hashem will escape. (Yoel 3:5) How can one call the name of Hashem? Rather, just as He is called Merciful and showing favor, so you should also be merciful and show favor and give altruistically to all. . . .Just like Hashem is called a Tzaddik (Righteous) . . . so should you be righteous , , , Just like Hashem is called a Chassid . . . so you should be a Chassid . . .. -- (Sifrei Eikev 13) The Torah Was Given to Purify Man -- Midrash Rabba “The sages expound on the verse: “The word of Hashem is pure (“tzerufa”), a guard for all those who take refuge in Him.” The word “tzerufa” is taken to mean, purify, forge, and the verse reads, The word of Hashem purifies . . . . What does it matter to Hashem, asks Rav in the Midrash, whether one slaughters an animal from the front (kosher slaughtering) or from the back (not kosher)? It must be that the Torah was given to purify man. “ (Bereishit Rabba 44:1) The Purpose of Life -- the Vilna Gaon “Hold on to Mussar and do not let go; watch it for it is your life” (Mishlei 4:13) “For it is your life: For a person is alive in order to break a [negative] character trait that he has not broken until now. Therefore one should always strengthen one’s self; for if he does not strengthen himself, why is he alive? (Vilna Gaon’s commentary on Mishlei 4:13) All sin stems from unimproved character traits. (commentary on Even Shleymah 1:1,2) The Main Purpose of Mans Creation -- R. Saadia Gaon and the Baal Shem Tov “Go out from your land (‘Lekh lekha’). . . and Rashi explains, ‘I will make your nature known in the world.’ I heard from my teacher (the Baal Shem Tov) may his memory be blessed, who quoted Rav Saadia Gaon: For the main purpose of man’s creation in this world is to break his bad character traits. . . For instance, if he has a hot personality and by nature gets angry easily he should try and break his anger as much as possible . . . “ (Baal Shem Tov on the Torah – Parshat Lekh Lekha 3, 4) Netivot Shalom: vol. I, Purifying Middot, introduction, p. 76 : Clinging to Hashem -- the Baalei Hamussar and Chasidus “As much as Middot take up a central place from a human perspective, and they are the splendor of the elevated man . . . . Even more so, this is the case in the approach of the Baalei Hamussar who, as we have seen, see character as the whole of man. Middot take up an incomparably more central place according to the approach of Chassidut, because the goal of Torah and Mitzvot is to come to Deveikut (clinging) with Hashem. The sages said, “Cling to His Middot” because Middot are the foundation of clinging to Hashem. Until one has perfected his Middot he is not able to connect up with Hashem . . . . Brisker Rav: When the founders of a Cheder for young children in Bnei Brak were ready to open their school, they approached the Brisker Rav,Zt”L, for his blessing. They showed the Rav their superior curriculum, indicating the amount of that was devoted to each subject. The Rav listened and replied, “ if I did not know for certain that you are fine upstanding Bnei Torah , I would have eject you from my home. You sound like Maskilim-heretics whose only concern is the mastery of the subject matter. What about inculcating our children with Ahavas Torah, Middos Tovos – character refinement and raising their level of Yraas Shomayim-fear of heaven ?! The problem today is that many children do not sense the Mesikus – sweetness of Torah”. The Ramchal says in his Messilas Yesharim : He should set aside definite times and hours for this weighing(of middos) so that it is not a fortuitous mater, but one which is conducted with the greatest regularity.( 3rd Chapter). … What has been transmitted (Character traits) to us through our parents and was generally self-evident to every religious individual is insufficient!( Introduction). … While there are many factors operating to distance piety from man, there are many elements that can counter these factors. Could it, then, conceivably, not be necessary to expend a great deal of time upon this study in order to know these truths and the means to acquire and keep them?! How will this wisdom enter a persons heart if he will not seek it?( Introduction). … However there are few who choose to devote thought and study to the total perfection of the divine service(Middos)… their failure to devote more attention to the matter stems from its being so clear and so obvious to them that they see no need for investing much time in its study ( Introduction) . … Every man of wisdom recognizes the need for perfection of Divine service and the necessity for its purity and cleanliness, without which it is certainly completely unacceptable, but repulsive and despised - For God searches all hearts and understands the inclination of all thoughts (I Chronicles 28:9) Messilat Yesharim, Seder Havikuach Chapt 1: The essence of serving God is proper intention of the heart (Kavanas Halev). Ramchal says in Derech Hashem(4:2. 5-6-7): In order to have its desired effect , the study of Torah must conform to two conditions: Reverence for the study of itself and the constant rectification of ones own deeds… when a person purifies and sanctifies himself, his study then transmit to him a degree of influence depending on his level of preparation. The more he prepares himself the greater will be the value and power of his study. The Chovot Halevavot in his Hakdamah already had said : How much more in our generation ! Most of the people do not take seriously the duties of the limbs, certainly not the duties of the heart. Those among the people who are drawn to Torah study aim only to be considered scholars by the common people and to be thought of as great men. They veer off the path of the Torah to study that which brings no excellence of character, does not correct personal faults, and ignorance of which brings no punishment, while neglecting the study of the fundamentals of the religion and the foundations of the Torah , which should not be ignored or forsaken... Without knowledge of these fundamentals* and foundations* and without practicing them , one simply cannot fulfill the commandments . *: to serve Him in one’s inner life; to be in Awe of Him and Love Him; to long to fulfill the commandments which we are bound by...to have trust in Him, to banish hatred and jealousy from one’s heart, to abstain from materialistic excesses which distract us from the service of G-d. Baal Shem Tov .(Tzaavat Harivash 117): Te Yetzer Hara will surely not entice you not to study Torah at all. He knows that you would not listen to that. For if you do not study at all, people will not esteem you and you will not be called a scholar. The Yetzer Hara thus entices you not to study whatever would bring you to fear of Heaven, such as the works of Mussar or the Shulchan Aruch, from which you would know the law properly. He entices you to study constantly nothing but the Talmud with all the commentaries.). Personal Note: AND DID YOU KNOW THAT IT IS ALSO HALACHA: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, ch.1, note 4 in the Mishnah Berurah : A person must set aside daily periods devoted to Mussar study. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim ch.603, note 2 in the Mishnah Berurah : The Arizal wrote that one is obligated to study Mussar throughout the entire year; the Vilna Gaon also wrote in several places that Mussar must be studied everyday; and the Rosh also ruled like this. Rav Chayim Vital zt”l -- Shaarei Kedusha 1:2 : The character traits are the essential preparations for keeping or transgressing the 613 commandments. It turns out that one must be more careful about improper character traits than about keeping mitzvot.” Evil Middos are much much worse than Averos themselves... It is more important to be careful about evil Middos than the fulfillment of Positive and Negative Mitzvos, because by being a Master of good Middos, it becomes easier to fulfill all of the Mitzvos. (“Midos Haraos Kashim Min HaAveros Atzman Meod Meod... Venimtza, Ki Yoter Tzarich Lizaher Mimidos Haraos Yoter Min Kiyum Hamitzvos Asse Velo Saasse, Ki Bihiyoso Baal Midos Tovos Benakel Yekayem Kol Hamitzvos”)… And as our sages of blessed memory said (Sanhedrin 88) they sent word from there: who is destined for the world to come? He who is meek, humble, and many other things similar to this. In all the verses above, the Mitzvos of The Torah were not mentioned, but only the good character traits. Remember those words and you will undoubtedly succeed (in achieving Ruach Hakodesh). Personal note: ( Note also that on the pasuk in Ekev 10:12-13 on which the whole Messilas Mesharim is based, the fulfilling of Mitzvos is the last of the five elements to achieve perfection in Divine service: Yet now, Israel, what does the eternal , your God, request of you? Only to be in Awe of the Eternal, your God, to follow all His ways, and to Love Him, and to serve the Eternal , your God , with all your heart and your entire being; to keep the Eternals commandments and statutes…). (Note also that in order to receive the Torah on Shavuos we needed to go through 50 days Character refinement , and we do the same preparation every year with the counting of the Omer where we focus on Middos; it precedes the Torah). (Note also that there are only three commandments in all of Sefer Bereshis, this is mostly for us to learn the ways of our fathers so that we can become pure and holy and be ready to receive the Torah which is Sefer Shemos). Orchos Tzaddikim in the Hakdamah : no deed is of much value without pure awe ... and if you do not have good traits, you do not have Torah and Mitzvos, for all of Torah hinges upon the perfection of ones traits. Ones Olam Haba depends essentially on this. The Meam Loez says : Even if one is a Torah scholar, but lacks awe of G-d , his scholarship will be of no value in the eyes of G-D (Ekev10:12). Rabbi Desssler ztl writes : Service without joy -without heart- is no service at all ... He has not even started on the road of true service of Hashem. And this is the root of all sin. (Michtav Eliyahu, Ki Tavo). Sanhedrin 106b: Rachmana Liba Baei= Hashem requires the Heart. Sanhedrin 106b : Eyn Toraso Shel Doeg Ela Mesafa veLachutz : Doegs Torah (knowledge) was merely from the lips outward (that is : he did not internalize it in his heart (Rashi)) and even though he knew so much ,he became wicked and died prematurely. Personal Note: Obviously we need to learn Torah to teach us the way to acquire good Middos, but we need to internalize it, if I learn torah and I dont change my ways , then I am not really learning Torah. Derashos Haran#6 says: Someone who devotes his body and soul to G-d and strongly desires to serve Him (even without being a scholar), will reach a higher level than someone who is a scholar ( but is lacking desire). Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz (quotes from “Dearer than life” from Rabbi A. Twerski p.235-237): _Torah and Wisdom are not the remedy for objectionable traits, but just the reverse. We we refine our Middos, only then do we acquire Torah, and this is the Truth.(Daas Chochah UMussar, vol.4 page 96).... _If one is deserving, Torah becomes a life sustaining medicine. If one is not deserving , torah can be a deadly poison.(Yoma 72b) One can not begin to benefit from Torah unless one has made himself into a suitable receptacle to receive it. _Torah acquired while our Middos are defective is useless at best, and harmful at worst... without Mesiras Nefesh for Middos, all our efforts at Torah may be in vain. _How can one do Naaseh before Nishma ? Rabbi Levovitz ‘s exposition clarifies this. Naaseh refers to activation of proper character traits, which the Talmud says we would have been obligated to implement even if the TORAH HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN TO US ( Eruvin 100b). Rambam’s Introduction to the Mishnah : The main purpose of man’s creation is to perform one function and all his other functions only serve to keep him alive so that he can fulfill his main function. This function is: To form abstract ideas and to know the essential truths... Now , the loftiest idea a man can think of is the unity of Hashem and all theological concepts that flow from this. All other fields of study are only exercises by which to train your mind until it reaches knowledge of Hashem. A person who chases after bodily pleasures and lets his intellect be dominated by his feelings becomes like an animal that can only think of eating, drinking and mating; such a person loses his power to think abstract thoughts.We have made clear that the purpose of the world and all that is in it is the Wise and Good man, the person who understands that wisdom and deeds are what make him man... By WISDOM I MEAN THE ABILITY TO SEE THE TRUTH AS IT REALLY IS, AND TO UNDERSTAND WHATEVER MAN CAN UNDERSTAND. By DEEDS I MEAN REFINING AND CURBING YOUR INNATE TENDENCIES, NOT TO BE SWEPT ALONG BY SENSUAL DESIRES, BUT ENJOYING ONLY THOSE THAT WILL BENEFIT YOUR PHISYCAL , MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH. A MAN WHO LIVES ACCORDING TO THESE NOTIONS IS THE IDEAL AND ACCOMPLISHED MAN... IF A MAN IS SUPPOSEDLY WISE AND RIGHTEOUS BUT RUNS AFTER WORLDLY DELIGHTS, THAT MAN IS NOT REALLY A WISE MAN... ON THE OTHER HAND , IF A MAN SERVES HASHEM , ABSTAINS FROM ENJOYMENT-EXCEPT FOR THAT WHICH HE NEEDS FOR HIS HEALTH,LIVES A LIFE OF MODERATION , HAS THE BEST CHARACTER TRAITS- BUT THOSE NOT POSSESS WISDOM, HE IS NOT PERFECT EITHER. BUT HE CERTAINLY IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST PERSON WE DISCUSSED; ONLY, HIS DEEDS DON’T HAVE PROPER DIRECTION, AND ARE NOT PERFORMED TRUTHFULLY. Messilas Yesharim There are few, however, who devote thought and study to perfection of Divine service - to love, fear, communion and all of the other aspects of saintliness. It is not that they consider this knowledge unessential; if questioned each one will maintain that it is of paramount importance and that one who is not clearly versed in it cannot be deemed truly wise. Their failure to devote more attention to it stems rather from its being so manifest and so obvious to them that they see no need for spending much time upon it. Consequently, this study and the reading of works of this kind have been left to those of a not too sensitive, almost dull intelligence. These you will see immersed in the study of saintliness, not stirring from it. It has reached the stage that when one sees another engaging in saintly conduct, he cannot help but suspect him of dull wittedness. This state of affairs results in evil consequences both for those who possess wisdom and for those who do not, causing both classes to lack true saintliness, and rendering it extremely rare. The wise lack it because of their limited consideration of it and the unwise because of their limited grasp. Rabbi Yaakov Hilel of Messilas Yesharim: We cannot allow our Mitzvos to become a matter of rote, discharged without thought or deliberation. This is not what Hashem wants of us, and such behavior is unacceptable to Him: “ This people draw near, with their mouth and lips they honor Me, but their heart they have distanced from Me, and their fear of me is Mitzvat Anashim Melumadah, observance through sheer force of habit ( yeshayahu 29:13). And the message of Chanuka: celebration of the light of morality This is true for Jews and non-Jews, however Jews are responsible to show the highest level of refinement , which is learned through the 613 commandments of the Torah. By being a light for the nations , meaning by showing how to stay pure in a corrupted world, a world that is confused on what is the proper behavior to have in any given situation , Jews are able to bring the redemption and fix the world. Chanuka sends precisely this message, where a small but pure candle ( our soul-the essence of pure character trait) can keep us alive/give us clarity on how to look at the world and stay/act moral . This is why this festival needs to be public, so that everybody in the outside world see the light from the windows/doors of every Jewish homes, to inspire the public to seek that light and to attach themselves to it. This is why the Light of the Menorah represents the light received by the learning of Torah, the source of Divine morality that will enable human beings to become one through morality and love , which will ultimately and automatically glue us to God, the source-code for all pure and morale behavior. The Torah is not for Jews only , it is for the world. The Jews are only responsible to keep it intact , and protect it from the negative/twisted ways mankind has fallen into,this is due to their trust of their own human morality. To the Egoistic being that thinks he can figure righteousness on his own, without God’s guidance (without the Torah. Let us all be humble and realize that we have to rely on God in order to act with perfection. May We all be humbled by the light of the Torah/menorah and celebrate that we will indeed succeed in staying pure and holy as we walk in a world of chaos. This is by the way why we light 8 lights. 7 lights correspond to the 7 basic forces/character traits that we us in this world. Any action is just the combination of these 7 traits. 8 represent the ability to fix the 7 traits by attaching ourselves the 8th level-divine morality. By the work of refining these 7 traits we are guaranteed that God will come from above and guide us, we will then transcend our basic nature and reach that 8th level of total clarity even when the physical world tries to push us in the opposite direction- a world of darkness without God, a world where the physical and material world is the goal – represented by the Greek exile.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 06:35:57 +0000
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