The Enduring Wisdom of Ramchal's Mesilas Yesharim and the Phenomenon of "Hashem Spoke!"

Show Notes
Transcript

Can neglecting Mussar's study be the root cause of our spiritual stagnation? Discover the profound insights of Ramchal's Mesilat Yesharim, the foundational text revered by Sephardic, Litvish, and Hasidic communities and central to Rabbi Israel Salanter's Musar movement. Join us as we unravel the compelling reasons why Ramchal questions the avoidance of Mussar and explore the timeless importance of nurturing our souls, refining our character, and deepening our connection with the Divine.

In this episode, we also delve into the phenomenon of desensitization to fundamental truths due to overexposure. Using the recent celebration of Shavuos as a vivid example, we reflect on the awe-inspiring event of God speaking directly to the Jewish people at Har Sinai, as highlighted by Rav Hirsch. Let us reignite our passion and rediscover the extraordinary nature of these occurrences every time we encounter the phrase "Vayidaber Hashem." Tune in to be inspired and to renew your faith, understanding, and appreciation for our rich Judaic traditions.

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Transcript

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There are thousands of Sepharim in the world and hardly any Sefer is more widely accepted and enjoyed and studied than Ramchau's Sefer, mesil as Yisharim, the Path of the Just.

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It's basically the step-by-step guide to prophecy, from kindergarten to Eliyahu Hanavi status.

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Just follow these simple steps.

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If you walk into a Sephardic shul that has a chacham at its head, you will find people learning Mesil Asi Shalom, or you'll find it on its shelves.

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Walk into a Litvish shul or a Hasidic shul and you will find people studying Ramchal's Mesil Asi Shalom.

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It's the go-to Mussar work.

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Rabbi Israel Salanter made it to be the very central Sefer that the Musar movement should be built on and should revolve around.

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And what does Ramchal's opening introduction begin with?

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One biting question that still hurts.

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When Ramchal asks, he says why is it that nobody studies Musa?

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Is it because the matters of the soul and character development and connecting to God and loving God and fearing God are not important?

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Is that the reason they don't study Musa?

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Hardly, of course.

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Ask them.

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They'll say it's important.

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So why don't they study Musa, says Ramchal.

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Because roiv pir samadzvarim, because these matters are so obvious, so rudimentary, elementary, so therefore I don't need to spend so much time studying it.

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Let me get on to the harder things to study and the more hair-splitting hakiro's that we find in Talmud Bavli.

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So they neglect the study because of how exposed they are to it.

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And, friends, this idea that being exposed to something so frequently can dim your senses, dull your senses to it, perhaps there isn't an even greater example to this phenomenon than what we just experienced just a couple days ago on the holiday of Shavuos.

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It shook me to the core.

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I saw it written in one of Rav Hirsch's letters.

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He said people, they just take for granted that what happened at Harsinai and what happened on Shavuos is that V'yadaber Hashem, the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments.

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They began with everyone standing around the mountain fire and all the smoke, the whole whole world trembling, and then God spokeeth.

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Deity, god, the Bayre'i Olam it.

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He spoke to people Vayadaber.

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Every time that a person should see this most incredible passage and it shows up literally multiple times of Parsha, it should give you a reality check that Judaism is the true religion and that your faith in Hashem should be renewed.

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This emunah check because God spoke, vayidaber Hashem.

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But it doesn't necessarily give us that same inspiration or motivation when we hear it Vayidaber Hashem.

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Because we hear it so frequently, we take it for granted.

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Let it be that when you hear the words Vayidaber, you recognize the extraordinary nature of that Hashem the boy Rehoboam.

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He spoke to one group of people and that's the Jewish people.

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Hashem spoke to us.

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Let that give you a reality check and shake you up and renew your faith.

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