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 #35 - How to Become a Talmid Chacham and Have Your Tefillos Answered
"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
Okay, everybody, welcome back to the Lech Dei Chmuzer podcast. We continue with the Bais Alevi on Midas Ha'anova Herak Test, chapter 9. I'm Hiskba Sheikh Ichtamud, and we've been learning about all the atrocities and the downfall of the people that possess this terrible mida of Gaiva, and now we're going to learn that not only is it bad for one's end game, the end result, but he even forgets his learning, which is also the end result, but a very tangible thing. A person wants to become a Tammachachem, he wants to be a Rishamayim, he wants to know Torah, he wants to remember his Torah. Definitely, the way to do that is not by being a Magaiva Gam ha-Meska, sheikhech Damudai.
Speaker 1:In addition to all of the terrible things we've learned, one who is arrogant forgets his Torah. Ch'amr b'masechas p'sachim, as the Gemara P'sachim tells us, kol ha'mesiyachim im chacham hu, chachmasim istakim mimanu, anyone who shows horiness. If he is a wise man, his wisdom deserts him. V'masechas tainis lama nimshu divya Torah l'mayim In to water. Water leaves a higher level and goes down to a lower place, and what we learn out from there is that the same thing is for Torah. Torah is compared to water, so, just like Torah goes from a high place to a low place. A person wants to be a receptacle vessel, a kli kibble, for Torah has to make sure that he is on the lower level, that he's not literally lower, that he doesn't care about himself, that he doesn't see his self-value that's not what anava means but that he's not a bangei, he's not walking around with a squared shoulder, he's not running the world, he's not over and beyond everyone else, he's approachable, he's humble, he realizes, he has a sense of Shiflos and Hanava. The Gemara says as well that the words of Torah are only retained by those whose mind is humble.
Speaker 1:Poverty is a mark of arrogance, my Anius, the Torah. What is poverty in the context of arrogance? Over here, it's not talking about materialistic gosh mistake of poverty. It's talking about an indication that one knows nothing. Is that he is praised. What does that mean? That haughtiness is the level leading to his downfall is that he is praised. What does that mean? Harim avur mikol ilu hamamarim ta'agayvahu ha-dargalam ha-plasayim? That haughtiness is the level leading to his downfall.
Speaker 1:A person who is a ba'agayvah has to realize that all of the Torah, all of his aspirations of becoming tamal chacham are all on the line. They're all at stake, because Hashem does not allow a person with Hori to possess the Torah, which is compared to water and, like water, which descends from a high place to a low place, torah as well must follow that example, that model of being captured and being in a vessel, in a kikibol, of someone who realizes his smallness, his futility and ultimately signed up and subscribed to a higher, supreme dominion subservience the Abishter himself. Moving on to chapter 10, perik Yod, we learn just now that a person who does not possess the meat of a novel, he's a Balgaivah, he's going to forget his Torah. And now, even deeper, even worse, a person says, okay, I forgot all my Torah, but maybe I'll have a connection with the Abishter. We learn that that as well.
Speaker 1:A Baal Ge'eva is bereft of V'oy di'oiser ki ein m'kubol tfilasei. Even more harmful. We're not sure, like I wasn't sure. Is it worse than forgetting all of your Torah? Is it the same, mutual, is it not as bad? But the base life is telling us, even worse, it's even more harmful when a person loses his k'ech etfilah. It's rock bottom. Ein mikubal tefilasay K'o te'i so'y besayta Amr chizg'a ein tefilasay sh'l'adam nishmas. A person's prayer are not heard unless he makes himself soft like flesh. Sh'enemar ay'amide ch'o. We see over here as a person has to make himself soft like flesh. It's to come to the abyss with a chna and yira, but a person who's a valgaiva, a person who says I'm in control, I got it all, I'm powerful. Hashem says you have to be soft, you have to prostrate yourself before me and if you're not willing to come in such a manner, you're not welcome to come to me at all.