Kol Dodi Dofek
“Iyov”:Teshuva must address bein adam lachaveiro as well.1) Can’t be on a higher level in bein adam laMakom than one is in bein adam laChaveiro – if selfish lachaveiro, will be so laMakom as well.2) What’s entrusted to a yachid
Mishlei 2:18 – The Impacts of Forsaking Torah
One who excessively pursues money / material things forsakes life (Torah = life), makes Torah feel burdensome to himself, and doesn’t have energy and time left for Torah.
Mishlei 2:17 – Living on a Different Level
Wealth etc. is something external / extrinsic, which will never provide the satisfaction and self-fulfillment that Torah does. Having 613 mitzvos means we are supposed to be living a spiritual life, i.e. live on a different level than others.
Mishlei 2:16 – Tayva & Chemda
Tayva is desire for physical pleasure, chemda is for things that don’t create physical pleasure, e.g. money, houses. “Nochri’ah” – tayva, something we are not supposed to puruse. “Isha zara” – chemda, we’re allowed to pursue the amount of money
Avos 3:13-15
Mishna 13Nedarim are bad if the person is trying to define an ideal different than the Torah, but to use nedarim to discipline oneself to the Torah’s own ideals is praiseworthy.Shtika is both a preventative measure against saying things that
The Modesty and Chessed of HKB”H’s Creation of Torah
HKB”H created Torah, which provides us access to some of the infinite chochmo Elokis on our indescribably low level. The modest venue of Har Sinai is a symbol of this modesty of HKB”H. Torah crystalized when Moshe received (“kibeil”) it
Mishlei 2:14 – Habits are Internalized
People outwardly bad vs. pretending they’re giving good advice but are really giving bad advice. Former described as taking joy using “simcha”, which indicates something that already existed, later as “gila”, which indicates something that is preexisting, since the bad
Mishlei 2:13 – Derech Yosher, Middah Beinonis
Derech yosher is the middah beinonis / memutzeh. How does yosher connote derech memutzeh? Going straight requries not being influenced to vere left or right. How is there derech memutzeh multiple paths? One possibility is each middah has its own
Avos 3:10-13
10: part of avodas Hashem is being me’urav im habriyos. 12: Rambam (here and Hil. De’os 2:7) – Shamai is talking about what a person shows externally, and R’ Yishmael is about what one feels internally. A person is supposed
Mishlei 2:12: Torah Saves One From Both Obvious and Deceptive Evil
Yetzer Hara of Ta’ava and ka’as. Bad that masquerades as good is worse than bad which doesn’t pretend; when it masquerades one can easily be seduced. Torah saves us from both.