I am taking a course in which we are studying the RaMCHaL's (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato zt"l) work Messilat Yesharim, or Path of Just. It's an interesting work, a self-help book for the ages, and one I believe should be required reading for every kid, on the precipice of adulthood and independence, preparing to leave home. This is certainly true, as well, for those of us who have made that jump already - weather it was last week, last year, or last decade.
Ramchal stresses the need to acquire zrizut, which translates to liveliness, alacrity, eagerness, for all the things that we do in our lives. At the same time, he cautions that we must approach these things, including the persuite of zrizut, with zhirut, which my instructor translated today as "appropriate caution."
So, we begin to walk a fine line. Pursue a life of passion and enthusiasm, tempered by an awareness that the passion must be directed to the source of our persuit, namely G-d, rather than towards the pursuit itself or the end reward of the persuit. Simultaneously, we have to mitigate our zhirut, our caution, and take the risk to pursue the passion, for there is risk inherent in all worthwhile pursuits.
This echoes an interesting comment made by Rabbi Yehuda Sokoloff, head of the Kansas City Kollel. In a shiur on Parashat Lech Lecha, he asked why Abraham made a public oath not to take any spoils of war from the kings he had just aided to victory. His answer was that, in moments of inspiration, we are apt to make all kinds of promises to ourselves; to commit internernally to act on the passion that is consuming us. All too often, however, life, laziness, and fear get in the way and the great plans don't even get off the ground. Understanding the tension between zrizut and zhirut, Abraham makes a public commitment to his goal. By doing so, he recruits those around him to help in the journey. He is no longer alone in his pursuit for he is now accountable. With that understanding, Rabbi Sokoloff charged us, when the moment of passion strikes, reach out and draw someone in to your undertaking - weather its to pray, to study, or in the Ramchal's view, to pursue all any aspect of life. Make a date with someone, a public commitment, to pursue that goal, so that you may temper both forces - passion and fear - in the act of service.
It sounded good. It reads well too, if I may say so myself. But, what really brought it home was watching, my recently bar-mitzvahed son, Ilan. Inspired by our dear friend Yaniv, Ilan talked and talked about becomming what is called a ba'al koreh - a dedicated Torah reader. He worked tirelessly towards his bar-mitvah, doing two in fact - one in the U.S. and one in Israel. He was zriz, for sure, but what would happen afterwards when he didn't have to do it? My answer, and example, came immediately. When the president of our shul announced that our regular Torah readers would be out of town, Ilan immediately stepped forward to volunteer. He committed on the spot, in front of the whole synagogue, and having watched him complete his committment this past Shabbat, I can say that he inspired not only me, but others as well to put their names on the "list."
In Pirkei Avot, it says, "Asei l'cha Rav," make yourself a teacher. In this case, a diminutive boy acted like a giant, and has set a tremendous example for me to learn from. I only hope that I can be a good student.
No comments:
Post a Comment