[Avodah] Seclusion is not the Jewish Way

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

RY Levine Quoting Hirsch:
> Hisbodidus, secluding oneself from others, is not the Jewish
> way. OurTzadikim and Chassidim lived among the masses, with the masses,
> and for themasses; they considered it their mission to lift the masses
> up to them.Abandonment of the masses -- mesushelach -- is symptomatic
> of a generation'ssickness; it is found in an age in which the concept
> of God isreduced to a subject for theoretical speculation, and where
> the thoughtof God makes men into fanatics, drives them to eschew and
> escape lifebecause they fear its temptations or -- in blind arrogance --
> disdainits problems. The Torah opposes ascetic seclusion,

Note, below are links to two related Posts on this selfsame subject.

The First from Hirsch on Avos, the 2nd from me based upon Hirschian
Ideals. Also Note, I delivered the Sukkah Sensitivity as a talk in the
Breuer Catered Sukkah several years ago.

NishmaBlog: Hirsch on Avoth 2:5; Community Uber Alles
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/hirsch-on-avoth-25-community-uber-alles.html

NishmaBlog: Sukkah Sensitivity - 2
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/2009/10/sukkah-sensitivity-2.html

KT
RRW
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