With the Aid of Lights Along our Path-
Last week I suggested a re-reading of the Misillat Yesharim (Lights Along The Way) by Rabbi Moshe Luzzatto.
Last week (in our STSG session) we discussed - or, rather, we approached the discussion of reading, and re-reading, and re-re-reading of Torah [which then invokes a study of, a learning about, a reflection upon and (Baruch HaShem) a comprehension of]. So, it is no surprise when we find that the first thing that Luzzatto tells us is: “...I write this book to remind (people) of that which they already knew... ...since (this) book contains little new information, there is no advantage in reading it only once, because the reader will not gain any new knowledge. The advantages of this book can result only from repeated readings, because that may remind people of those things that tend to be forgotten and a person can then set his heart to those obligations which one tends to overlook.” He continues to say that most people will spend an inordinate amount of time to learn about the subjects of which they aspire, e.g. math, natural science, engineering, auto mechanics (et. al.) and some will (also)devote their time and energies toward Torah and halachah; “However relatively few... will devote thought and study to perfecting their devotion to G-d; i.e. just what it means to love G-d, fear G-d*, to be close to G-d... this is because they do not consider these to be important(?) [subjects for scholarly inquiry].”
Now... here is something quite interesting and something on which Rabbi Abraham Twersky, M.D. makes commentary- the Ramchal says; “...since highly intelligent people spend their time with study of other subjects, the study of perfection of Divine service... is generally left to those who are not of keen intelligence...” WOW! Rabbi Twersky: “ (The) Ramchal is describing the situation as he saw it in his time (circa 1740 CE)... between Minchah and Maariv, the rabbi would learn Ein Yaakov (that non-halachic portion of the Talmud comprised of ethical content and incidents in the lives of the Talmudic authors) - or: lessons in conduct. Those attending the rabbi’s class were usually those of limited scholarship... (as) Apparently the “Scholars” would consider the study of Ein Yaakov as ‘not for them’." HMMM... It was commented that during the time of the “Inquisition”, when confronted with becoming a “Christian” of becoming dead... many of the “Scholars” could rationalize conversion while the ‘simple folk‘ went to the stake declaring Shema Yisrael.
Ramchal: “A person does not devote much thought to something to which he does not feel duty bound.”
By this simple statement we see that if we do not stop to reflect, as we discussed last week; ...that The Search For Truth takes effort and will. And man will only dig as deep as is convenient. The search for the truth (whole truth and nothing but...) is not a search that most are willing to undertake. It requires a passion. It has an urgency and a drive that pushes us though the uncomfortable areas of our lives in the search to find something... something that requires us to leave our comfort zone, to leave our chosen ideals and concepts.
So when we are confronted with a situation where we must leave our comfort zone - we must say that; “Perhaps this (kind of) study IS what I should involve myself in, even though it is difficult, even though it seems to be leading to someplace that I have previously assumed ‘I knew’ or someplace where I will have to leave my previous considerations behind.” This is an area that we all encounter from time-to-time, and not just within the area of Torah.
Just for one example: earlier physicians had to ‘deal’ with new concepts and techniques - the idea of germs was argued against by physicians for quite a while before they were confronted with the reality that they were wrong and had to leave their particular “comfort zone”.
Therefore it is of little difference when we are asked to leave that comfortable area of belief that we have long held (whatever that may be) - that women could not lead a service, or that “yes” Jews do believe in a Life after Death, or, or.... maybe we need to consider (just consider the possibility) that Rabbi Luzzatto does have something that we can learn. Just maybe we need to bring nothing but an open mind to a learning opportunity. Anyone who has spent more that an hour in front of a classroom will tell you that you frequently learn more from your pupils that you already knew! That does not mean that you need to teach in order to learn - but it wouldn’t hoit! I do not see my ‘job’ as coming along to a classroom situation and opening up the heads of the ‘students’ and ‘pouring in knowledge’. Any more that it is for me to sit in a classroom and have some other person ‘pour in the knowledge’ that s/he had previously had poured into their head.
We gotta think. We gotta have an open mind. We need to question. We really need to consider other possibilities. That is why it is so important to participate and to hear ‘the other side of the story’. Now if you accept that you don’t know - then you need to say to yourself: “Perhaps there was a teacher that lived 326 years ago that said something that is meaningful to me, today.” “Yah! Perhaps those dead rabbis were on the right track. Someplace I went wrong. Let me hear that again!” Just think about it. Maybe. Maybe, we can all learn something today.
Now... here is something quite interesting and something on which Rabbi Abraham Twersky, M.D. makes commentary- the Ramchal says; “...since highly intelligent people spend their time with study of other subjects, the study of perfection of Divine service... is generally left to those who are not of keen intelligence...” WOW! Rabbi Twersky: “ (The) Ramchal is describing the situation as he saw it in his time (circa 1740 CE)... between Minchah and Maariv, the rabbi would learn Ein Yaakov (that non-halachic portion of the Talmud comprised of ethical content and incidents in the lives of the Talmudic authors) - or: lessons in conduct. Those attending the rabbi’s class were usually those of limited scholarship... (as) Apparently the “Scholars” would consider the study of Ein Yaakov as ‘not for them’." HMMM... It was commented that during the time of the “Inquisition”, when confronted with becoming a “Christian” of becoming dead... many of the “Scholars” could rationalize conversion while the ‘simple folk‘ went to the stake declaring Shema Yisrael.
Ramchal: “A person does not devote much thought to something to which he does not feel duty bound.”
By this simple statement we see that if we do not stop to reflect, as we discussed last week; ...that The Search For Truth takes effort and will. And man will only dig as deep as is convenient. The search for the truth (whole truth and nothing but...) is not a search that most are willing to undertake. It requires a passion. It has an urgency and a drive that pushes us though the uncomfortable areas of our lives in the search to find something... something that requires us to leave our comfort zone, to leave our chosen ideals and concepts.
So when we are confronted with a situation where we must leave our comfort zone - we must say that; “Perhaps this (kind of) study IS what I should involve myself in, even though it is difficult, even though it seems to be leading to someplace that I have previously assumed ‘I knew’ or someplace where I will have to leave my previous considerations behind.” This is an area that we all encounter from time-to-time, and not just within the area of Torah.
Just for one example: earlier physicians had to ‘deal’ with new concepts and techniques - the idea of germs was argued against by physicians for quite a while before they were confronted with the reality that they were wrong and had to leave their particular “comfort zone”.
Therefore it is of little difference when we are asked to leave that comfortable area of belief that we have long held (whatever that may be) - that women could not lead a service, or that “yes” Jews do believe in a Life after Death, or, or.... maybe we need to consider (just consider the possibility) that Rabbi Luzzatto does have something that we can learn. Just maybe we need to bring nothing but an open mind to a learning opportunity. Anyone who has spent more that an hour in front of a classroom will tell you that you frequently learn more from your pupils that you already knew! That does not mean that you need to teach in order to learn - but it wouldn’t hoit! I do not see my ‘job’ as coming along to a classroom situation and opening up the heads of the ‘students’ and ‘pouring in knowledge’. Any more that it is for me to sit in a classroom and have some other person ‘pour in the knowledge’ that s/he had previously had poured into their head.
We gotta think. We gotta have an open mind. We need to question. We really need to consider other possibilities. That is why it is so important to participate and to hear ‘the other side of the story’. Now if you accept that you don’t know - then you need to say to yourself: “Perhaps there was a teacher that lived 326 years ago that said something that is meaningful to me, today.” “Yah! Perhaps those dead rabbis were on the right track. Someplace I went wrong. Let me hear that again!” Just think about it. Maybe. Maybe, we can all learn something today.
* to: Stand in Awe and wonder of HaShem!
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