No question, I fail on all three counts, MT.

But today I can honestly say that I am making some real progress in each of them and have a piece of each. Mah sh'ein kein in all my years in yeshivah and post-yeshivah learning/avodah, I thought I was far further along than I really was in those things! I didn't even have an achizah in them! That's why my acting out confused me so badly!

dov wrote on 15 Jun 2012 17:21:

They say in smicha shiur, "We'll give you smicha when you've been learning for such a long time that you are utterly convinced that you know NOTHING. That way you can be counted on not to paskin unless you know the halacha. " I don't qualify yet, I still think I know some halacha.
Same deal here, I would think. Also, it takes a bit of Yiraas Shomayim (the real kind) to admit to myself that I haven't gotten very far at all.
They say: A fellow walks in to his Rebbe, and says, "Rebbe, when I do my avodas Hashem I'm not doing it for the right reasons!"
The Rebbe nods, thoughtfully.
"And, Rebbe, I'm not telling the Rebbe this for the right reasons, either."
The Rebbe nods again.
"And, I'm telling the Rebbe that I'm not telling the Rebbe this for the right reasons, also not for the right reasons!"
The Rebbe nods again, and the fellow leaves. The Rebbe turns to the others in the room and says, "That fellow has an inkling of what true Yiraas Shomayim is."

Vihamyvin Yovin.

Good Shabbos,
Meir

Another fellow walks into a different Rebbe with his partner. They have a business quarrel. The Rebbe listens to one guy's argument and says, "you're right". Then the second guy strongly counters those arguments and the Rebbe tells him "you're also right". The Rebbitzin, who was listening, complained to the Rebbe, "how can both of them be right?" And the Rebbe tells her, "you're also right".

Vihamyvin Yovin .

Good Shabbos,
MT

You are both right!

Don’t be like Korach - ולא יהיה כקרח

Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler zt”l (Michtav Me’Eliyahu vol. 4) explains how it happened that a smart man like Korach acted so foolishly. What he says, applies to each of us as well - so listen carefully!

He quotes Rav Hai Gaon (in his responsa), who brings the following story:

A lion wanted to tear apart a fox. So the fox says to him, “Why settle for a skinny body like mine? Over there is a fat man.” Replied the lion, “I am fearful of his prayers - I may be punished through him.” Said the fox, “The punishment will not come upon you, only on your children or grandchildren.” The lion went towards the fat man, and fell into a trap - a pit covered with branches and leaves. The fox went and peeked at the lion in the pit. Said the lion to the fox, “But you said that the punishment will not come upon me, but on my children or grandchildren!” Replied the fox, “You are not being punished for your sins, but for the sins of your forefathers.” Said the lion, “Fathers ate sour grapes and the teeth of the children get the chills?” Replied the fox, “But you agreed that your children should be punished for your sins!”

And Rav Hai Gaon concludes, “How much mussar lies within this!”

And R’ Dessler explains: This is the power of ‘taivoh’ (desire) - it blinds the eyes of one’s mind. Same with the Korach. He was a wise man, so why did he act so illogically? Because the ‘taivoh’ corrupted the eyes of his mind.

So where do we fit in? Or rather, let’s not fit in.

Gut Shabbos

MT

Machshovo wrote on 21 Jun 2012 20:49:

Omein!
Gut Shabbos.

The first possuk in this week's Haftorah says: לכו ונלכה הגלגל ונחדש שם המלוכה

Perhaps we can say that Gilgol alludes to a galgal - a wheel, which has its ups and downs. When we find ourselves in the viscious cycle of aliyah/yeridah we must not allow ourselves to stay down there. We need to be mechazek ourselves and make a new kobolas ol malchus shomayim.

Gut Shabbos

MT

Liked it!!

JJ

Just thought of something that may agree with some of you (and may disagree with others?).

We say in Slichos:
ואין לנו שיור רק התורה הזאת
ובכל זאת אנו לי-ה ועינינו לי-ה

Perhaps this can mean as follows:
As Jews, we only have the Torah way of life.
But even then, we need to surrender ourselves and our eyes to Hashem.

Ultimately, only He will help us stay afloat.

MT

So true!

like (as facebook's like...)

gevaldigger vort!

reminds me of this story: www.guardyoureyes.org/forum/index.php?topic=3284.msg110021#msg110021

MT yashar koach. nice insight.

I heard this cute one at a wedding last night:

The Siyum Hashas is still a couple of weeks away, but word has it that recently many Yidden prematurely reached the end of Shas. Why so? Because they installed filters on their electronic devices, which they use to learn Shas. As a result, most of Mesechta Niddah got filtered out, so they made it much quicker to the finish line.

MT

(sigh) You know what they say about guys like me...
Things that the tzadikim yeraninu bom uposhim yikoshlu bom.
Some sugyas I just can't look at without being triggered. I suppose that will change with progress- it is the heilige torah! But not now. I'll stick with Taaruvos.