A Thought On Parshas Yisro
"...anshei cha'il yiraei Elokim...""...men of accomplishment, G-d fearing..." (18:21)
Moshe's task was to select judges and leaders who had the valiant qualities of being honest, models of sanctity, people of character.
What do we look for when we select people who might influence us?
In the best of times, when we are enumerating the characteristics of those we look up to, how often do we find ourselves declaring, "He's brilliant!" or "He 'knows his stuff'!" or "What a lomdishe kopp" and similar praise?Yet, writes Rabbeinu Bachya, we really don't find those types of descriptors in the Scripture. The Torah doesn't write "and Avraham outsmarted people" or "Yakov proved he was right." The Torah generally highlights the greatness of our pious ones and our prophets not with references to their brilliance, wisdom or data base, but rather with statements about their personal qualities. Noach is described as "a perfect tzadik". Avraham is depicted as "pure." Yakov is "sincere". Moshe is "very humble."
This is all to teach us, says Rabbeinu Bachya, that the priority in HaShem's world, and for us, is not our intelligence, but it is our just and stable character. Just as the tree is not as important as the fruit which it bears, a person's mind is only of value when it is used to live a decent life. He notes this thought in Chazal's interpretation of Tehillim 111:10 "the zenith of wisdom is fear of HaShem; good understanding for all who practice them." The verse does not say, "good understanding for all who learn them" but "for all who practice them."
While I was visiting my son R'Akiva and his family in Jerusalem the week before last, he took me to visit some of the tzadikim with whom he has cultivated a close relationship. I spoke with two rebbes, two roshei kollel, two who understand how to give brachos to people, and three roshei yeshiva. I heard their Torah. I witnessed their brilliance. I was in awe of their depth and learning. But what moved me was their high order of refinement and decency. And that is what we need to emulate. It is the Torah that they have learned so loyally and that immersion in knowing HaShem which has made each one of them so markedly different than people we might meet along the road in other places. Yet what seems to be so unique and wonderful is that their Torah learning has generated such character, each one different and great in his own manner.
May we learn to seek out and discern those qualities which make the real difference in life. Good Shabbos. D Fox
Moshe's task was to select judges and leaders who had the valiant qualities of being honest, models of sanctity, people of character.
What do we look for when we select people who might influence us?
In the best of times, when we are enumerating the characteristics of those we look up to, how often do we find ourselves declaring, "He's brilliant!" or "He 'knows his stuff'!" or "What a lomdishe kopp" and similar praise?Yet, writes Rabbeinu Bachya, we really don't find those types of descriptors in the Scripture. The Torah doesn't write "and Avraham outsmarted people" or "Yakov proved he was right." The Torah generally highlights the greatness of our pious ones and our prophets not with references to their brilliance, wisdom or data base, but rather with statements about their personal qualities. Noach is described as "a perfect tzadik". Avraham is depicted as "pure." Yakov is "sincere". Moshe is "very humble."
This is all to teach us, says Rabbeinu Bachya, that the priority in HaShem's world, and for us, is not our intelligence, but it is our just and stable character. Just as the tree is not as important as the fruit which it bears, a person's mind is only of value when it is used to live a decent life. He notes this thought in Chazal's interpretation of Tehillim 111:10 "the zenith of wisdom is fear of HaShem; good understanding for all who practice them." The verse does not say, "good understanding for all who learn them" but "for all who practice them."
While I was visiting my son R'Akiva and his family in Jerusalem the week before last, he took me to visit some of the tzadikim with whom he has cultivated a close relationship. I spoke with two rebbes, two roshei kollel, two who understand how to give brachos to people, and three roshei yeshiva. I heard their Torah. I witnessed their brilliance. I was in awe of their depth and learning. But what moved me was their high order of refinement and decency. And that is what we need to emulate. It is the Torah that they have learned so loyally and that immersion in knowing HaShem which has made each one of them so markedly different than people we might meet along the road in other places. Yet what seems to be so unique and wonderful is that their Torah learning has generated such character, each one different and great in his own manner.
May we learn to seek out and discern those qualities which make the real difference in life. Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 2:34 PM
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