Lechteich Mussar Podcast
Join us as we explore the depth of bitachon, as explained in the timeless sefer Shaar HaBitachon.
Lechteich Mussar Podcast
Beis HaLevi #34 - The Downfall of Gaavah
"In his timeless essay on Anavah (humility), the Beis HaLevi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, delves into the essence of this foundational trait and how it enhances our relationship with Hashem, with others and with ourselves. What does true humility look like? And how can we cultivate this vital quality in our own lives?" -ArtScroll Beis HaLevi on Anavah
Hey everybody, welcome back to the Lech Dei Chmoser podcast where we continue with the Beis Alevi on the Midah of Anava. We've learned about the terrible pitfalls of the Midah of Gaiva, how it's tantamount to literally, avedezara, and now we are going to continue in learning about this awful, dreadful, atrocious midah of ga'iva and what else it can rahman al-litzlan cause a yid, all things that we would never want. As we are striving for greatness, striving for the ebishter, we will see how it achieves everything. Just the opposite of that Parakles, chapter 8. Ha-ga'ivu hu ha-pesach l'mapaloseh. Haughtiness is a doorway to one's downfall. Chapter 8 HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu hu haPesach l'mapalaseh HaGayvu.
Speaker 0:Destruction and arrogance precedes failure. The Shammat B'ya Pishchai Mevakeh Shaber and one who opens his mouth arrogantly is asking to be broken. So these are depicting the terrible downfall that awaits the Ba'gai. B'av V'Sham B'Fineshever, yigvah Lev Ish. Before one's destruction, a man's heart grows haughty Again. How haughtiness is the passage? What leads up to one's destruction? Chas v'sham V'shayah ki yoyim v'hashem tzvokoy sa'al kol ge'aviram v'al kol nisa v'shafo.
Speaker 0:In Yishayah it says that one day there will be a day of retribution against every proud and arrogant person and against every exalted person. V'amil alzeh v'yalkot, it says. And when it comes to a boss of Adam, flesh and blood, he sees a handsome person and he's rich and he supports him and assists him, and when he sees a person who falls, he knocks him down again. That's the mido, although we don't practically do this, but we can understand this type of notion, this perspective. But Hashem is the opposite. When Hashem sees someone who is arrogant and prideful, he topples him. As it says, hashem has a day for retribution against every proud and arrogant person. And it says and if Hashem sees someone who fell, hashem is there to bring him back up. If a person raises himself, he becomes haughty, then Hashem will bring him low. As it says, and from Balmais which literally means a place, but it's interpreted as its heights Hashem will sink them into the ground.
Speaker 0:But, says the Bais HaLevi. All that we've learned is the negativity and the terrible aspect of a Baal, baal Ge'eva. But a person could think you become despondent and say me all these years as a Baal Ge'eva. So how can I do tshuva? How can I come back If Hashem already subscribed me to all these terrible downfalls, and this terrible root of downfall and disconnection with the Evishter and Hashem is going to push him down. So how can I get back up? It says the base of Levi. There's always a chance for tshuva. We can always come back in. If a person has tshuva, he repents, then Hashem not only allows him to come, but Hashem Himself. Kaviyachel is there and he will raise him up.
Speaker 0:Sh'anem mar v. And I say to every woman and when the Lord has done this, all the things that are in the house of the Lord, to whom he has given the commandment, all the things that are in the house of the Lord, will ultimately be diminished. And I say to every woman as it says, they are exalted, they will be decreased. And I say to every woman All the things that are in the house of the Lord I see them growing in the tree of asherah tree, a tree which is which was worshipped as an idol. And we have a juxtaposition and we learn out from here that a person who is a Baal Gevah, he will get cut down. A person who is Hori will ultimately be diminished. It says the word Se'es in the context of a person who is a ba'gaiva, and se'es means to be cut down. The Gemara in Sukkot tells us that the gasas ruach, the arrogant person, is equal to all of the misdeeds combined at its states in the Gemara in Sukkot. And obviously the choice, as always, is ours.