B"H

Tuesday, Sivan 29, 5776 / July 4, 2016 - Hakhel year

In the fourth chapter of Pirkei Avot, which we will recite on Shabbat, Ben Zoma gives the following guidelines for attaining Wisdom; Strength; Wealth &Honor.

They are universal ambitions and according to the sage Ben Zoma, are within reach of every person to attain, because these four qualities are not dependent on outside forces, only on the person who wants to achieve them.  

Ben Zoma says: says, “Who is a wise person? One who learns from every person.”

“Who is a strong person? One who controls his personal inclinations. As it says, ‘A patient person is better than a strong man; He who masters his character is better than one who conquers a city.”

“Who is rich? He who is happy with his share; as it is stated in Psalms: ‘When you eat the labor of your hands, you will be happy, and it will be good for you.’ You will be happy in this world and it will be good for you in the World-to-Come.”

“Who is honored? He who honors others.”   

Contrary to popular thinking, Ben Zoma teaches us that a wise person is not necessarily who has many students, but one who has many teachers. Who is wise? One who learns from everyone.

Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov teaches us that not only from everyone, but also form everything a person sees and hears one can learn from. G-d puts things in our path in order to learn from them. “Nothing is by chance or by accident,” says the Baal Shem Tov.

The fact that Divine Providence made us come in contact with certain people and events during our life is for the purpose of learning from them or to help them. If we view them in the right light, they can benefit us and in turn we can be of benefit to them.

The same applies to strength. A strong person is not one who can subdue someone else. True strength is to control that desire to conquer someone else. It is far easier to see someone else’s faults than to see our own. It is much easier to set someone else straight than to identify and correct our own faults. Ben Zoma teaches us, “Who is a strong person? One who corrects his own faulty character traits.

It is the same with wealth. A person who lacks nothing is truly rich. One who is happy and satisfied with their lot in life, lacks nothing and is considered truly rich.

Tonight (Tuesday night) through Wednesday and Thursday is Rosh Chodesh Tammuz.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY