<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/17/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Eli Turkel</b> <<a href="mailto:eliturkel@gmail.com">eliturkel@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I have a question about what the phrase ha-sameach be-chelko means?<br>Simple pshat would indicate that one does not strive to be better/richer<br>but is happy with where he is<br><br>1. modern (western) society prizes "progress". Our civilization has
<br>progressed materially because of people who wanted to change things and were<br>not happy with the status quo. For example in the stock market a company<br>that makes a billion dollars every year is not desirable. A company is supposed
<br>to continuously increase revenues through new innovations. We view "eastern"<br>religions as the sleepy type with yoga where people are happy but they live<br>like they lived 2000 years ago.<br><br>2. In spiritual matters ha-sameach be-chelko seems even less appropriate.
<br>It seems to be the opposite of teshuva which says that one should never be happy<br>with ones status and always work on getting better.<br><br>It certainly seems to be against the philosophy of RYBS who stressed that
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religion is not the opiate of the masses. Rather Judaism involves a constant struggle.<br><br>I return to the question of how to interpret ha-sameach be-chelko<br><br>shana tova<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><span class="sg">
Eli Turkel
</span><br>_</blockquote><div><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">A non-Jewish Philospher once stated:</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
Longing for what you do NOT have</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Expresses lack of appreciation for that which you DO have!</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This parallels yesh lo maneh rotzeh masayim, etc.</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
The trick here is to appreciate and be grateful for everything you have and to still strive for more w/o feeling regret over "What is"</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Health mashal:</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">A person is involved - heaven Forbid - in a serious car accident. He comes out alive but he is baned-up badly and has broken bones, contusions, bruises, etc.
</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He benches Gomel for his very Life that has been spared</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Yett he still davens for a REFUAH SHLEIMA in order to be restored to total health.</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
If he remains complacent he will be a grateful cripple</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">If he becomes completely unappreciative and dissatsified, he may grow into a bitter - albeit healed, survivor.
</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The trick is to Thank HKBH for what He has already done for him and yet to still ask for more.</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Life can be a balancing act...</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></div></div><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" clear="all"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">-- </span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Kesiva vaChasima Tova</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
Best Wishes for 5768,</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="mailto:RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com">RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com</a></span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
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