[Avodah] Ameilus BeTorah

[Rabbi Meir G. Rabi]

R' Micha,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
pls see my responses below within your message

On Wed, Jun 22, 2022 at 6:53 AM Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:

> On Fri, Jun 03, 2022 at 11:20:56AM +1000, Rabbi Meir G. Rabi wrote:
> > Even when Yidden fulfill all the commandments - if we are not Ameilim BeTorah
> HKBH will ....
> > It seems there must be a link between the Vilna Gaon's observation
> [opening of Even Sheleimah] that the purpose of the Torah is Tikkun
> HaMiddos and Ameilus BeTorah.
>
> I see tiqun hammidos, but nothing about ameilus in Even Sheleimah until paragrpah
> 39.
>
> The Gra opens by telling you "All of Avodas Hashem rests on Tiqun haMiddos"
>  and only mentions being oseiq baTorah as a way to put the yh"r is snooze
> mode.
>
> In other words... I would have said that to the Gra, the purpose of life and
> the Torah is Tiqon haMiddos, and ameilus is a means to that end.
>

I'm sorry if I gave the impression that the GRA actually says that.
Indeed it is for this reason that I wrote IT SEEMS there must be a link -
because even when Yidden fulfill the entire Torah, horrible things will
afflict us if we are not Ameilim BeTorah. So it seems reasonable to assume
that Ameilus BeTorah encompases the heartbeat of HKBH's purpose of
Creation, perfection of one's Middos.
What is the link?

Perhaps Ameilus BeTorah best cultivates and captures pursuit of truth at
all costs.
When one commits to seeking and grasping truth above all else, one is in a
position to begin being honest with oneself and THAT is the foundation of
beginning the journey towards perfecting one's Middos.

Of those who fast Mon and Thr, a tradition amongst the very righteous, some
keep it to themselves, they are great people, whilst others ensure that
their circle of friends and community gets the memo. Those others include
some who actually fast and some who do not.
My father AH would ask - of these two groups which is the worse?
One's first response is - those liars who are not fasting but merely
boasting that they do.
However, upon further reflection one realises that those who are not
fasting are at least not fooling themselves.

I think this is the Yesod of Mussar - get to know yourself, for real.
And the only way to get there is via Ameilus BeTorah.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20220622/edc02e0c/attachment.htm>