העורך Editor

An excerpt:

Knowing how to behave does not necessarily translate into proper behavior. A student can study Torah and understand halacha and the expectations of the Torah but yet encounter difficulty in converting knowledge into action. Mussar is designed to address this issue. It is designed to provide encouragement and the motivation needed to advance from knowledge to action.

Based on this definition, it seems clear that the study of mussar is invaluable. But there is substantial controversy regarding the study of mussar. In fact, various of the Roshei Yeshiva of the famous Volozhin Yeshiva discouraged students in the Yeshiva from studying mussar. At least one even referred to the study of mussar as a distraction from the study of Torah.[1]

This controversy is difficult to understand. What is the basis for this discord regarding the study of mussar?

There is an interesting account of a debate between Rav Chaim Soloveitchik and Rebbi Yitzchok Belzer regarding the study of mussar that may illuminate the issue. Rav Chaim Soloveitchik was one of the last Roshei Yeshiva of the Volozhin Yeshiva. As mentioned above, the study of mussar was not encouraged by the Yeshiva. Rebbi Yitzchok Belzer appealed to Rav Chaim to reconsider the Yeshiva’s stance. He supported his arguments with a comment from the Talmud in Tractate Berachot. The Talmud explains that a person should always incite his yetzer ha’tov – his good inclination against his yetzer ha’ra – his evil inclination. If a person cannot overcome his yetzer ha’ra by this means, then he should immerse himself in the study of Torah. If this measure is not effective, he should read the Shema. As a final resort – when all else fails – the person should contemplate his day of death.[2] Rebbi Yitzchok Belzer believed that this final measure represents a mussar approach. Therefore, it is clear that the Sages of the Talmud endorsed the study and methods of mussar.

Rav Chaim pointed out that there is another text from the Talmud in Tractate Succah that seems to contradict the comments of the Sages in Tractate Berachot. The Sages comment that if a person encounters the yetzer ha’ra, the person should take his yetzer ha’ra to the bait midrash.[3] In other words, the best response to the yetzer ha’ra is to change one’s focus and concentrate on the study of Torah. Rav Chaim explained that the two texts do not contradict each other. In order to resolve the apparent contradiction between the texts, Rav Chaim offered an analogy. If a person is suffering from digestive problems, a doctor might prescribe castor oil. But for a healthy person, it would not be advisable to take this medication. In fact, use of this medication would make the healthy person ill. Based on this analogy, Rav Chaim explained the two texts. I person who is spiritually ill needs to be treated. The treatment for this ill person may include counseling the person to more carefully consider his mortality – a motivational or mussar approach. But a person who is healthy should instead respond to the impulses of his yetzer ha’ra by focusing on Torah study. For this healthy person, contemplation of mortality – or the study of mussar may very well have a negative psychological impact.[4]

From OU.org, here.

Here is a well-written article comparing the comparative downsides to the US gang’s depredations upon its citizenry to those of the Israeli government upon their own victims. Some excerpts:

Many who have run-ins with “the system” in the US would disagree about it being “fairly tightly regulated”.  In particular the administrative state in the U.S. has become so ridiculous that it’s pretty hard not to break laws on a daily basis – and get hung out to dry if somebody arbitrarily comes after you on it.  I personally was accused of “building without a permit” for removing old carpeting (go ahead, prove you didn’t build), and for trimming a tree (yes, it was a crime to cut down a tree in my own yard where I lived).  But putting that aside…

Yes the Israeli system has some problems with corruption, and with influence peddling.  In some ways this isn’t so different than the US, just a little more obvious…

There are almost no police shootings in Israel, even in normal crime situations.

How’s the DMV where you live?  Every tried to get a permit (yourself) to remodel your bathroom?  Ever been fined for a “obstructive bush”?

“How do people like you navigate your way through this to achieve some sort of protection from your own country?” 

You learn the system.  How do you avoid getting audited by the IRS, with 100,000 different regulations that could get you?

I recommend reading the full original, especially for those preparing to make Aliyah to Israel.

One cannot override Hashem’s plan, but one may certainly be punished for trying.

Gemara Sotah 9a, end – 9b:

תנו רבנן סוטה נתנה עיניה במי שאינו ראוי לה מה שביקשה לא ניתן לה ומה שבידה נטלוהו ממנה שכל הנותן עיניו במה שאינו שלו מה שמבקש אין נותנין לו ומה שבידו נוטלין הימנו

וכן מצינו בנחש הקדמוני שנתן עיניו במה שאינו ראוי לו מה שביקש לא נתנו לו ומה שבידו נטלוהו ממנו

וכן מצינו בקין וקרח ובלעם ודואג ואחיתופל וגחזי ואבשלום ואדוניהו ועוזיהו והמן שנתנו עיניהם במה שאינו ראוי להם מה שביקשו לא ניתן להם ומה שבידם נטלוהו מהם.

Soncino’s translation:

Our Rabbis have taught: The guilty Sotah set her eyes on one who was not proper for her; what she sought was not given to her (She is not allowed to marry her lover) and what she possessed was taken from her; (She dies if she drinks the water, and is divorced with loss of her settlement if she confesses) because whoever sets his eyes on that which is not his is not granted what he seeks and what he possesses is taken from him.

We thus find it with the primeval serpent [in the Garden of Eden] which set its eyes on that which was not proper for it; what it sought was not granted to it and what it possessed was taken from it. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I declared: Let it be king over every animal and beast; but now, Cursed art thou above all cattle and above every beast of the field. I declared, let it walk with an erect posture; but now it shall go upon its belly. I declared: Let its food be the same as that of man; but now it shall eat dust. It said: I will kill Adam and marry Eve; but now, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. Similarly do we find it with Cain, Korah, Balaam, Doeg, Ahitophel, Gehazi, Absalom, Adonijah, Uzziah and Haman, who set their eyes upon that which was not proper for them; what they sought was not granted to them and what they possessed was taken from them.

“ויברך אותם משה”.

א”ל ה’ אלקי אבותיכם יוסף וגו’ (תו”כ שמיני פ”א) וי”א ויהי נועם וגו’ (במדב”ר פי”ב) וי”א יהי רצון שתשרה שכינה במעשה ידיכם (ס”ע פ”ו ותו”כ הנ”ל) וי”א יה”ר שלא תשלוט בכם עין רע ולא אויב במעשה ידיכם (מדרש אגדה) וי”א ברכת כהנים (ס”ח סי’ תתרכ”א) וי”א כשם שנתעסקתם במלאכת משכן ושרתה שכינה על מעשה ידיכם כך תזכו ותבנו לפניו בית הבחירה ותשרה שכינה על מעשה ידיכם (תוספתא מנחות פ”ז וסע”ר פ”ו ע”ש).

מתוך “למכסה עתיק” של הרב חיים קניבסקי