This shabbos we discussed parsha Balak. And we heard a dvar torah from Rav Males. I would like to thank Yaki and Shirley for hosting our kiddush. The learning was in memory of David’s father, HaRav Nattan Ben HaRav Shmuel, and Yaki’s mother, Hannah Ben Shmuel, on the occasion of their yahrzeit.
Rob Golder led a discussion of Rav Dr. George Schlesinger’s article “Humility”, which appears in the publication Tradition. We discussed how in the parsha, Balak did not have much humility. In the article, Rav Schlesinger discusses the trait of humility. The article points out that humility is very important, and may in fact be the most important character trait, based on how it is mentioned in the Torah. The article talks about Moshe having the character trait of humility.
Rav Schlesinger discusses in his article how the Rambam usually advocated for a middle ground when it comes to character traits. For example, it is important to be generous, but not good to be so generous we enable others to not have to take responsibility. However, unlike other character traits, it would seem the more modest we are, the better.
Rob shared more about the article, and how Rav Schlesinger discusses the difficulty of defining humility. The article talks about how humility is often defined as the lack of arrogance, but that this definition is not clear. The article discussed how this is like defining a married man as someone who is not a bachelor.
The article goes on to discuss how we can practice humility by being modest. However, this is not necessarily that clear to define either. For example, when asked what one does for a living, to say I am the best, would not be humble. However, if someone is clearly marketing his services, to say I am the best at what I do, does not necessary indicate a lack of humility. Howard commented that when someone makes a statement, what matters in determining whether or not the person is humble and modest, is to whom the statement is made, and the purpose in making it - not what the statement is.
David has shared at previous learnings, that his father would define being humble as being aware of one’s strengths, but believing that one’s strengths are no more important than anyone else’s strengths. We can show that we are humble with both our words, and our actions.
Rob mentioned that Rav Dr Schlesinger had a lot of thoughts and writings on the topic of time. Norm spoke about how science has finally agreed that time has a beginning, with the “big bang” theory. Norm commented that this is something that has always been in the Torah. Yaki spoke about how Hashem had to create the concept of a beginning, as a first step in his act of creation. We spoke about how Hashem created time as we know it, and that we live within time so it is hard for us to see things from outside of time.
Howard commented that science can never explain how something came out of nothing, but that this is described in the Torah. Yaki spoke that there is a belief that time goes on indefinitely but it loops back in some ways so that there is some repetition. Yaki spoke that perhaps there is some type of Exodus that occurs on the 15th of Nissan every year.
Yaki spoke about how there were 3 leaders amongst our people, Moshe, Aaron, and Miriam. Yaki spoke about how we received mana in the merit of Moshe, water in the merit of Miriam, and the clouds of glory in the merit of Aaron. We discussed how when Miriam died, the well stopped providing water to us. Yaki commented that this was only temporary, in order to show us that the water had been flowing in the merit of Miriam.
Yaki spoke about how there were 3 leaders amongst our people, Moshe, Aaron, and Miriam. Yaki spoke about how we received mana in the merit of Moshe, water in the merit of Miriam, and the clouds of glory in the merit of Aaron. We discussed how when Miriam died, the well stopped providing water to us. Yaki commented that this was only temporary, in order to show us that the water had been flowing in the merit of Miriam.
Yaki commented that Moshe’s sin in hitting the rock, was trying to get water to flow in his merit, rather than having the water continuing to flow in the merit of Miriam. Yaki commented that when we influence something in this world that continues after we pass away, such as was the case with Miriam, it benefits us spiritually, as our essence continues to stay alive in this world.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
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