[Avodah] ha-sameach be-chelko

[Eli Turkel]

I have a question about what the phrase ha-sameach be-chelko means?
Simple pshat would indicate that one does not strive to be better/richer
but is happy with where he is

1. modern (western) society prizes "progress". Our civilization has
progressed materially because of people who wanted to change things and were
not happy with the status quo. For example in the stock market a company
that makes a billion dollars every year is not desirable. A company is
supposed
to continuously increase revenues through new innovations. We view "eastern"
religions as the sleepy type with yoga where people are happy but they live
like they lived 2000 years ago.

2. In spiritual matters ha-sameach be-chelko seems even less appropriate.
It seems to be the opposite of teshuva which says that one should never be
happy
with ones status and always work on getting better.

It certainly seems to be against the philosophy of RYBS who stressed that
religion is not the opiate of the masses. Rather Judaism involves a constant
struggle.

I return to the question of how to interpret ha-sameach be-chelko

shana tova

-- 
Eli Turkel
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