[Avodah] Where Bread Comes From

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

Akiva:
> And I'd suggest the following insight into both of them: In both cases,
> it is critical to distinguish between the performer and the observer. The
> observer merely sees the external trappings, and (especially if he
> is reltively uneducated) will consider the actions to be magic and
> superstition. But the performer is in a very different situation:
> if he understands what he is doing, and how it works, even on a most
> rudimentary level, then it is technology and bitachon.

Isn't this the classic mar'is ho'ayyin concern or cheshash concern?

And so mystical practices are relegated
By many to being private..



[RYL:]
> Reb Yisroel Salanter did his utmost to correct "the dry passionless
> observance of halakhah," yet, to the best of my knowledge,  he did
> not suggest that anyone "embellish their practice with other inspiring
> practices." He started a movement based on the study of mussar seforim
> to a degree that was not prevalent in the past. Still it was within the
> framework of traditional Torah study. He also stressed the importance of
> making one's Bein Adom l'Chaveiro behavior at least as important as one's
> Bein Adom l'Makom.Now you may argue that this is also innovation. Even
> if it is, IMO it is not the same kind of innovation that we see today,
> which is often based on esoteric practices.YL

My impression from Hirsch is that
Na'aseh is the doing of a mitzvah
And the Nishma is the reflection upon that mitza even AFTER it has
been performed

So during the seder we may "act-out" heirus, but the feeling and the
contemplation upon that ritual may actually take places during the next
6 days of the chag.

Piyyutim themselves are often such reflections using melitza.
Unfortunately this genre is out-of-style.

Perhaps good inspiring articles on the topic could be a more contemporary
substitute.

EG The meaning of pesach matzah marror
The meaning of Sefirag
How these rituals elevate us to higher levels every year..

So even if the rituals while performed might be dry, their afterglow
could be warm and fuzzy.

Think of a great baseball game. While playing it might be hard work.
But then watching the analysts replay it with insightful commentary can
give the player wtaching that same game, some pause for reflection.

KT
RRW
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