Sha’ar 2:9: Matching What We Undertake to Our Abilities and Life Circumstances
We must always match what we undertake to our abilities and life circumstances. Rabbienu Yona discusses that as one ages the focus should shift towards tefillah, praise, teshuva, etc. This fits well with the reality of decline that many experience
Prikei Avos, 4:1 – The Paths to Chochmo, Gevura, Osher. Kavod Haberiyos.
In the first 3 items in the mishna, Ben Zoma is describing the path to chochmo, gevura, and osher, not a description of each of those things themselves. When we show kavod habriyos, who, unlike animals, are b’tzelem Elokim, we
Sha’ar 2:9: External and Internal Acquisitions
Rabbeinu Yona describes the shift in focus that should occur when one gets older, i.e. the shift in balance towards focusing more on tikkun hammidos, chochmo etc. While the specific advice is for older people, the realities he describes should
Chilul Hashem in the Streets: Response to the Protests
Sha’ar 2:14, 4:17: Cheshbon Hanefesh during Aseres Yemei Teshuva.
Sha’ar 2:14, 4:17: Cheshbon Hanefesh is supposed to be present throughout Aseres Yemei Teshuva, and must cover not just what happened but also why it happened and how I am going to fix it. On Yom Kippur, according to Rabbeinu
Divine Foreknowledge & Free Choice (Al haTeshuva: Bechira & Teshuva, Part 3)
Rambam (Hilchos Teshuva 5:5) explains that our question regarding the seeming contradiction between Divine foreknowledge and free choice is based on a false assumption, i.e. that Hashem knows things in the same manner that we do. Since He and His
Teshuva 5781: Taking Responsibility
Sha’ar 2:9, 2:14: Yiras Hashem is the Basis and Goal of Everything. Rewriting Our Year’s Record During Aseres Yemei Teshuva.
Sha’ar 2:9: Ultimate purpose of chochmo is to attain yiras Hashem, which is the beginning of everything and also the end goal. As we age, we should intensify and deepen our yiras Hashem, making strides towards the higher, ultimate level
Sha’ar 2:9, 2:14: Times of Din (Old Age, 10 Days of Teshuva) Demand a Different Balance in Life
If we relate to din as we should, then both during old age and during the Aseres Yemei Teshuva we should feel an eimas hadin and not take anything for granted. Hence the parallels in language between 2:9 and 2:14.
Sha’ar 2:9: The appropriate shifts in focus at later stages of life.
In 2:9, R’ Yona, based on the mishna on Avos 5:26, talks about having a certain perspective on life, which ideally one should have clarity on in one’s youth, but if not one can/should gain. Later in life, when there