As one advances in their Torah study it is possible that they may become overwhelmed or G-d forbid, even depressed over their lack of accomplishment. Even if one were to learn and know all the Talmud with Rashi and Tosfos they still may feel unsucsessful. Did they learn the other Bali Tosfoes, the Ritvah, and the Rashba? What about the Chasos , the Pnei Yoshua and the Nachlos David? How well do they know it and understand it? The Torah is an endless ocean and we are never able to grasp it all. As we get older it gets worse because awesome Day of Judgment is approaching! Where can we find the self-worth and sense of accomplishment we need to go forward in our struggle to perfect our Torah knowledge?

The Path of the Just Chapter One states:
When you look further into the matter, you will see that only union (devekus) with God constitutes true perfection (shelemus), as King David said (Psalms 73:28), "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good," and (Psalms 27:4), "I asked one thing from God; that will I seek - to dwell in God's house all the days of my life..." For this alone is the true good, and anything besides this which people deem good is nothing but emptiness and deceptive worthlessness.

We can infer from here that the ultimate perfection which Hashem requires from us, is for us to cling to Him as much as we possible can. This is the true perfection! So if we use every moment we have to learn Torah and do mitvoths, that is perfection. Someone who would live their life this way would surely grow to be a great Talmud Chachum or Zedekus to "their" potential. The ability to "cling to Hashem" is available to all of us at every moment and that is the most we can do. We must work to perfect our devotion to Hashem but the ultimate results are not in our hands.

As it says: He would also say: It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to absolve yourself from it. If you have learned much Torah, you will be greatly rewarded, and your employer is trustworthy to pay you the reward of your labors. And know, that the reward of the righteous is in the World to Come. (Ethics of the Fathers 2:16)

"Only union with G-d constitutes true perfection."

How do we know that we have union with G-d? Just because we learn and read all that stuff doesn't constitute union with G-d. One can read and know very little and have enormous union with G-d, as evidenced by one's acts of lovingkindness. You can read, read, read and read about G-d and still not know him. You can spell, spell, spell and spell out his names and still he will not answer you because he doesn't know you.

Personally, I read very little and I am not claiming to know him very well but I do know a little bit about him. That he is one. And there is nothing in this whole universe that is greater than he, because he created it. And the whole purpose of creation is so it can be a dwelling place for HaShem. And that is the task that we must finish, to make this world a dwelling place for the most high, HaShem.

It is easy for some to sit around and read books all day. But it isn't so easy to discuss with Hashem the problems we are having, because HaShem doesn't always want to listen to us. So how do we cling to a G-d that is deaf and won't listen? By showing him that we are capable of managing his affairs we are clinging to him and his very principles of the law. Life is too short and too fragile not to cling to him since he supplies all of our resources.

Any book that I read about him is only inspired by the imagination of the author. To really cling to G-d you must allow your own imagination of him to guide you. Everybody else's imagination's are only relative to the truth in their own lives. What is important is to find the truth of G-d in your own life and own imagination.
By doing so, you come to grips with the fact that G-d is real.


There are alot of things that matter in this life, such as clean water, fresh air and healthy food. And it is only by the mercy of G-d that he sustains us. He rains on the Just and Unjust. I, for one, being an American,I am not so sure how just I really am. Perhaps in his eyes I am more unjust and selfish. In this world it is easy to be selfish. But, thankfully, he sustains me.

I am devoted to HaShem, and I hope he is devoted to me, regardless of my many flaws. See, I don't believe that our relationship to Hashem is onesided. I believe that just as we cling to HaShem, he clings to us, too.

As for the world to come, and who is a true tzadik, I can't answer. But I know that if I feel unsuccessful, it is only because the world around me makes me feel unsuccessful. It has nothing to do with me or my relationship with HaShem.

If not us who?

Rabbi Mitterhoff:
This is a very inspirational writing. Todah Raba! Yocheved

quote:

Originally posted by Rabbi Mitterhoff:
As one advances in their Torah study it is possible that they may become overwhelmed or G-d forbid, even depressed over their lack of accomplishment. Even if one were to learn and know all the Talmud with Rashi and Tosfos they still may feel unsucsessful. Did they learn the other Bali Tosfoes, the Ritvah, and the Rashba? What about the Chasos , the Pnei Yoshua and the Nachlos David?

"But as for me, the nearness of God is my good," and (Psalms 27:4)


As it says: He would also say: It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to absolve yourself from it. If you have learned much Torah, you will be greatly rewarded, and your employer is trustworthy to pay you the reward of your labors. And know, that the reward of the righteous is in the World to Come. (Ethics of the Fathers 2:16)

Truly, it is most inspirational when there is more than a slight comment suggesting that it is, but rather when you get a written response and a discussion comes out of it.

I apologize if I sounded like none of the above books matter. I know very well that they do. And it should be the goal of every Rabbi to read them. But without life experiences to put it all into perspective you could get lost in it. I didn't regard HaShem as being my employer, but rather more of a father. There is much to say about thumbing through books, they pass on our heritage and enlighten us to grow in the ways of HaShem.

Not being a reader, I still hang on to the books but trust more that HaShem will keep hanging on to me.

"For this is G-d, our G-d forever and ever. He will guide us forever. " Psalm 48:15

B´H

Shalom Aleijem

I feel that all the reading and studying refered on the previous post might prepare your body to recognize your soul and their parts in unity. G-d Hakadosh Baruj Hu is unity above everything and every soul, understood as becoming one soul as the jew soul. Now, I understand that the true perfection of the soul as Miamonides Rambam (blessed memory) explains must be achieved by the healing of the soul. On this point, teachings get across the understanding of what is good or bad by complying with Miztvhot all 613, once we accomplish this difficult task nowaday, I have the convincement that we would bring G-d´s Hakadosh Baruj Hu presence to our physical world. Hashamain is G-d´s Hakadosh Baruj Hu place ata areet´z was given to us human..

Lej Leshalom

quote:

Originally posted by Rabbi Mitterhoff:
As one advances in their Torah study it is possible that they may become overwhelmed or G-d forbid, even depressed over their lack of accomplishment. Even if one were to learn and know all the Talmud with Rashi and Tosfos they still may feel unsucsessful. Did they learn the other Bali Tosfoes, the Ritvah, and the Rashba? What about the Chasos , the Pnei Yoshua and the Nachlos David? How well do they know it and understand it? The Torah is an endless ocean and we are never able to grasp it all. As we get older it gets worse because awesome Day of Judgment is approaching! Where can we find the self-worth and sense of accomplishment we need to go forward in our struggle to perfect our Torah knowledge?

The Path of the Just Chapter One states:
When you look further into the matter, you will see that only union (devekus) with God constitutes true perfection (shelemus), as King David said (Psalms 73:28), "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good," and (Psalms 27:4), "I asked one thing from God; that will I seek - to dwell in God's house all the days of my life..." For this alone is the true good, and anything besides this which people deem good is nothing but emptiness and deceptive worthlessness.

We can infer from here that the ultimate perfection which Hashem requires from us, is for us to cling to Him as much as we possible can. This is the true perfection! So if we use every moment we have to learn Torah and do mitvoths, that is perfection. Someone who would live their life this way would surely grow to be a great Talmud Chachum or Zedekus to "their" potential. The ability to "cling to Hashem" is available to all of us at every moment and that is the most we can do. We must work to perfect our devotion to Hashem but the ultimate results are not in our hands.

As it says: He would also say: It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to absolve yourself from it. If you have learned much Torah, you will be greatly rewarded, and your employer is trustworthy to pay you the reward of your labors. And know, that the reward of the righteous is in the World to Come. (Ethics of the Fathers 2:16)

Thank you for this, rabbi. I needed to hear this right now. I have been feeling I just will never know enough.

Rosemary

Does Hashem really want us to know it all? The truth is very simple.