ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: The Right Weigh to Go

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

ืคืจืง ื™ื isnโ€™t really separate from ืคืจืง ื™; it is the continuation of book two of ืžืฉืœื™. As we said last time, there is less structure to this book than the consistent metaphor of book one; it is more a list of proverbs in the literal sense, short memorable lessons. And we need that. We spent all of book one talking about the value of ื—ื›ืžื” and the importance of the ื—ื›ืžื” of the Torah. Now we have more specific advice. Last time it was โ€œIf you donโ€™t have anything nice to say, donโ€™t say anything at allโ€. This perek start with:

ืžืื–ื ื™ ืžืจืžื” ืชื•ืขื‘ืช ื”ืณ; ื•ืื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ืจืฆื•ื ื•ืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื

Use honest weights. The concept was mentioned in the last perek:

ืจึธืืฉื ืขืฉื” ื›ืฃ ืจืžื™ื”; ื•ื™ื“ ื—ืจื•ืฆื™ื ืชืขืฉื™ืจืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ื™:ื“

Why is it so important? It seems like itโ€™s not the sort of thing that is relevant to most people. I have a kitchen scale, but I donโ€™t think Iโ€™m a horrible person if I donโ€™t calibrate it. Iโ€™m not using it for ืžืจืžื”, deceit. But somehow the Torah tells us that honest weights and measures are the most important ืžืฆื•ื•ืช:

ืœื” ืœื ืชืขืฉื• ืขื•ืœ ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ ื‘ืžื“ื” ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ื•ื‘ืžืฉื•ืจื”ืƒ ืœื• ืžืื–ื ื™ ืฆื“ืง ืื‘ื ื™ ืฆื“ืง ืื™ืคืช ืฆื“ืง ื•ื”ื™ืŸ ืฆื“ืง ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื›ื; ืื ื™ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ืฆืืชื™ ืืชื›ื ืžืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ืืƒ ืœื– ื•ืฉืžืจืชื ืืช ื›ืœ ื—ืงืชื™ ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ ื•ืขืฉื™ืชื ืืชื; ืื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ืฆืืชื™ ืืชื›ื: ืขืœ ืžื ืช ื›ืŸ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื˜:ืœื–

And even more:

ื™ื’ ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ื‘ื›ื™ืกืš ืื‘ืŸ ื•ืื‘ืŸ; ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืงื˜ื ื”ืƒ ื™ื“ ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืš ืื™ืคื” ื•ืื™ืคื”; ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืงื˜ื ื”ืƒ ื˜ื• ืื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ื•ืฆื“ืง ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืื™ืคื” ืฉืœืžื” ื•ืฆื“ืง ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืืจื™ื›ื• ื™ืžื™ืš ืขืœ ื”ืื“ืžื” ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื ืชืŸ ืœืšืƒ ื˜ื– ื›ื™ ืชื•ืขื‘ืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื›ืœ ืขืฉื” ืืœื”; ื›ืœ ืขืฉื” ืขื•ืœืƒ

ื™ื– ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœืš ืขืžืœืง ื‘ื“ืจืš ื‘ืฆืืชื›ื ืžืžืฆืจื™ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื”

ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœืš: ืื ืฉืงืจืช ื‘ืžื“ื•ืช ื•ื‘ืžืฉืงืœื•ืช ื”ื•ื™ ื“ื•ืื’ ืžื’ืจื•ื™ ื”ืื•ื™ื‘, ืฉื ืืžืจ ืžึนืื–ึฐื ึตื™ ืžึดืจึฐืžึธื” ืชึผื•ึนืขึฒื‘ึทืช ื”ืณ, ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืชืจื™ื” (ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื‘) ื‘ึผึธื ื–ึธื“ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึนื ืงึธืœื•ึนืŸ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื”:ื™ื–

ืœื ืชืขืฉื• ืขื•ืœ ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜: ืื ืœื“ื™ืŸ, ื”ืจื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ื ืืžืจ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื˜:ื˜ื•) ืœึนื ืชึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึผ ืขึธื•ึถืœ ื‘ึผึทืžึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธื˜, ื•ืžื”ื• ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืฉื ื•ื™ ื›ืืŸ? ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื“ื” ื•ื”ืžืฉืงืœ ื•ื”ืžืฉื•ืจื”, ืžืœืžื“ ืฉื”ืžื•ื“ื“ ื ืงืจื ื“ื™ืŸ, ืฉืื ืฉืงืจ ื‘ืžื“ื” ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื ื›ืžืงืœืงืœ ืืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ, ื•ืงืจื•ื™ ืขื•ืœ, ืฉื ืื•ื™ ื•ืžืฉืงืฅ, ื—ืจื ื•ืชื•ืขื‘ื”โ€ฆ

ืจืฉืดื™, ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื˜:ืœื”

Since weโ€™re not all shopkeepers, there must be something more general about ืžืื–ื ื™ ืžืจืžื” than simply cheating your customers. The answer is in part that a false weight makes dishonesty automatic. Just by having an inaccurate weight, you are cheating without thinking about it, without planning. So it is emblematic of a society in which no one can be trusted.

ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืงื˜ื ื”: ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืฉืžื›ื—ืฉืช ืืช ื”ืงื˜ื ื”, ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื™ ื ื•ื˜ืœ ื‘ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืžื—ื–ื™ืจ ื‘ืงื˜ื ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื”:ื™ื’

And so you donโ€™t even know who you cheated.

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืœื•ื™: ืงืฉื” ืขื•ื ืฉืŸ ืฉืœ ืžื“ื•ืช ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืขื•ื ืฉืŸ ืฉืœ ืขืจื™ื•ืชโ€ฆื•ืืœื ืžืื™ ืขื•ื“ืคื™ื™ื”ื•? ื“ื”ืชื ืืคืฉืจ ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”, ื•ื”ื›ื ืœื ืืคืฉืจ ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”.

ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ืชืจื ืคื—,ื‘

And if everyone has to worry if they are being cheated in each transaction, then no one trusts anyone else. And there is no reason for you to be honest; youโ€™re letting everyone else walk all over you. Society breaks down.

โ€œTrust,โ€ political scientist Eric Uslaner has written (Political Science Quarterly. 115:4), โ€œis the chicken soup of social life.โ€ Over the last two decades, social scientists have repeatedly suggested that good things tend to happen in societies where people tend to trust each otherโ€”they have stronger democracies, richer economies, better health, and they suffer less often from any number of social ills.

As the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes survey highlighted, the degree of trust in societies varies considerably around the world. Moreover, while the survey finds that social trust is not strongly correlated with our measures of democracy or economic performance, it is strongly correlated with views about two other important issues: crime and corruption. In countries where people generally trust one another, there are fewer worries about crime or corrupt political leaders.

Richard Wike and Kathleen Holzwart, Pew Research Center, Where Trust is High, Crime and Corruption are Low

And as a religious act, ืžืื–ื ื™ ืฆื“ืง are an expression of ื”ืœื›ืช ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื•, imitaion dei. ื”ืณ created the world with precise measures, because that is what creation needed.

ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ, ื“ืข, ื›ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจื ื•ื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื”ืขื•ืœื, ืžื“ื“ ื•ืฉืงืœ ื•ืคืœืก ืœื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ืื—ื“ ืงื™ื•ืžื• ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื•, ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื ื•ื’ืข ื‘ื—ื‘ื™ืจื• ื›ืœืœ ืืคื™ืœื• ื›ื—ื•ื˜ ื”ืฉืขืจื”. ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ื ืžืฆืื™ื ื‘ืขื•ืœื ืžืฉื•ืขืจื™ื, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื™ืขื•ืจ ื”ืืœืงื™ ืืฉืจ ืฉื™ืขืจ ืืช ื”ื›ืœ. ื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš, ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืื“ื ืžืฉืงืจ ื‘ืžื“ื•ืช ื•ื‘ืฉื™ืขื•ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ื ื•ื”ื’ื™ื ื‘ื‘ืจื™ื•ืช, ืื– ื‘ื ื”ืื•ื™ื‘. ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืžืงื•ื“ื ืžื“ื” ืžืฉื•ืขืจ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื• ืฉื™ืขืจ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืฉืœื ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื”ืื•ื™ื‘ ื‘ื›ื—ื•, ื•ืœื ื™ืจื‘ื” ื’ื‘ื•ืœื• ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ื›ื ืก ื‘ืชื—ื•ื ื—ื‘ื™ืจื• ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืขื•ืจ ืืฉืจ ื”ืขืžื™ื“ื• ื”ืฉื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš. ื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš, ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ืžืฉืงืจ ื‘ืžื“ื”, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื”ืžื“ื” ืืฆืœื• ืžืฉื•ืขืจืช, ืจืง ื™ื•ืกื™ืฃ ื”ืžื“ื” ืื• ืคื•ื—ืช, ืื– ื‘ื ื”ืื•ื™ื‘ ื•ืžืชื’ื‘ืจ ืขืœื™ื• ื’ื ื›ืŸ, ื•ื™ื•ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ืžื“ื” ื”ืžื•ื’ื‘ืœืช, ื•ื–ื” ื™ืฆื™ืื” ืžืŸ ื”ืžื“ื” ื”ืžืฉื•ืขืจืช.

ื’ื•ืจ ืืจื™ื”, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื”:ื™ื–

Almost everything about the basic structure of the universeโ€”for example, the fundamental laws and parameters of physics and the initial distribution of matter and energyโ€”is balanced on a razorโ€™s edge for life to occur. As the eminent Princeton physicist Freeman Dyson notes, โ€œThere are manyโ€ฆlucky accidents in physics. Without such accidents, water could not exist as liquid, chains of carbon atoms could not form complex organic molecules, and hydrogen atoms could not form breakable bridges between moleculesโ€โ€”in short, life as we know it would be impossible.

Scientists call this extraordinary balancing of the parameters of physics and the initial conditions of the universe the โ€œfine-tuning of the cosmosโ€โ€ฆToday, it is widely regarded as offering by far the most persuasive current argument for the existence of G-d.

Robin Collins, The Fine-Tuning Design Argument

[Astronomer Martin Reesโ€™s] book was enthralling. It explained that the universe is shaped by six mathematical constants which, had they varied by a millionth or trillionth degree, would have resulted in no universe or at least no life. Had the force of gravity been slightly different, for example, the universe would either have expanded or imploded in such a way as to preclude the formation of stars or planets. Had nuclear efficiency been slightly lower the cosmos would consist only of hydrogen; no life would have emerged. Had it been slightly higher there would have been rapid stellar evolution and decay leaving no time for life to evolve. The combination of improbabilities was immenseโ€ฆ

G-d creates order in the natural universe. We are charged with creating order in the human universe.โ€ฏThat means painstaking care in what we say, what we do, and what we must restrain ourselves from doing. There is a precise choreography to the moral and spiritual life as there is a precise architecture to the Tabernacle. Being good, specificallyโ€ฏbeing holy, is not a matter of acting as the spirit moves us. It is a matter of aligning ourselves to the Will that made the world. Law, structure, precision: of these things the cosmos is made and without them it would cease to be.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, The Architecture of Holiness

And that applies to all of us, not just shopkeepers. โ€œMeasuringโ€ is how we think about and evaluate others.

ืžืื–ื ื™ ืžืจืžื” ืชื•ืขื‘ืช ื”ืณ: ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงื™ืœ ืœืขืฆืžื• ื•ืžื—ืžื™ืจ ืœืื—ืจ ืฉื–ื”ื• ืจืฉืข ืขืจื•ื; ืื• ื”ืขื•ืฉื” ื›ืงื•ืœื™ ื‘ืดืฉ ื•ื›ืงื•ืœื™ ื‘ืดื” ืฉื”ื•ื ืจืฉืข ื•ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืขื‘ืช ื”ืณ .

ืคืจื•ืฉ ื”ื’ืจืดื, ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื

The first thing ื”ืณ will ask you at the final judgement, did you have ืžืื–ื ื™ ืžืจืžื” or ืื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื”?

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื: ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืžื›ื ื™ืกื™ืŸ ืื“ื ืœื“ื™ืŸ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื•: ื ืฉืืช ื•ื ืชืช ื‘ืืžื•ื ื”? ืงื‘ืขืช ืขื™ืชื™ื ืœืชื•ืจื”? ืขืกืงืช ื‘ืคืจื™ื” ื•ืจื‘ื™ื”? ืฆื™ืคื™ืช ืœื™ืฉื•ืขื”? ืคื™ืœืคืœืช ื‘ื—ื›ืžื”?โ€ฆ

ืฉื‘ืช ืœื,ื

Itโ€™s a big deal.

And then, Shlomo returns to the theme of reward and punishment. Good always wins; evil will be destroyed. Itโ€™s the underlying axiom of ืกืคืจ ืžืฉืœื™.

ื‘ ื‘ื ื–ื“ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ื‘ื ืงืœื•ืŸ; ื•ืืช ืฆื ื•ืขื™ื ื—ื›ืžื”ืƒ
ื’ ืชืžืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืชื ื—ื; ื•ืกืœืฃ ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื ื™ืฉื“ืืƒ
ื“ ืœื ื™ื•ืขื™ืœ ื”ื•ืŸ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืขื‘ืจื”; ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืชืฆื™ืœ ืžืžื•ืชืƒ
ื” ืฆื“ืงืช ืชืžื™ื ืชื™ืฉืจ ื“ืจื›ื•; ื•ื‘ืจืฉืขืชื• ื™ืคืœ ืจืฉืขืƒ
ื• ืฆื“ืงืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืชืฆื™ืœื; ื•ื‘ื”ื•ืช ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื ื™ืœื›ื“ื•ืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ืคืจืง ื™ื

But here the emphasis on ืชืžื™ื and ื™ืฉืจื™ื, being simple and not tricky. Part of ืื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื” is not being too clever; โ€œtechnically trueโ€ is probably not true at all. We talked about this in Middle of the Road.

ืชืžื™ื ืชื”ื™ื” ืขื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื—:ื™ื’

I like to ask the people around the seder table which of the four sons they would like to be. Predictably, almost everyone would like to be the ben chacham. Personally, however, I have a soft spot for the ben tam. If I could be anyone, I would like to be him.

Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Depths of Majesty, p. 221

ืชืžืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืชื ื—ื: ื›ื‘ืจ ื›ืชื‘ืชื™ ืœืžืขืœื” ืฉืชื ื”ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ืœืš ื‘ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช ื‘ื“ืจืš ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ื•ื™ืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื ืžื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ืฉื›ืœื•, ื•ื–ื” ื”ื™ืฉืจ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื™ืคื•ืœ ื‘ืจืฉืช ื”ื™ืฆื”ืดืจ, ื›ื™ ืฉื›ืœ ืื ื•ืฉื™ ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื˜ืขื•ืช ื•ืฆืจื™ืš ื”ื™ืฉืจ ื’ืดื› ืœื”ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ื ื’ื“ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืฉืœื ื™ืกืžื•ืš ืขืœ ืฉื›ืœื•. ื•ื–ื”ื• ืชื•ืžืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืžื” ืฉื”ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ืŸ ื‘ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช ื’ืดื› ื–ื”ื• ืชื ื—ื.

ืคืจื•ืฉ ื”ื’ืจืดื, ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื’

Donโ€™t be too clever in your halachic reasoning, and donโ€™t be too clever in your relationship with other people. You will end up outthinking yourself. ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช is a virtue.

ื”ื”ื•ื ืžื™ื ื ื“ื—ื–ื™ื™ื” ืœืจื‘ื ื“ืงื ืžืขื™ื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉืžืขืชื, ื•ื™ืชื‘ื” ืืฆื‘ืขืชื ื“ื™ื“ื™ื” ืชื•ืชื™ ื›ืจืขื ื•ืงื ืžื™ื™ืฅ ื‘ื”ื•, ื•ืงื ืžื‘ืขืŸ ืืฆื‘ืขืชื™ื” ื“ืžื. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืขืžื ืคื–ื™ื–ื, ื“ืงื“ืžื™ืชื• ืคื•ืžื™ื™ื›ื• ืœืื•ื“ื ื™ื™ื›ื•, ืื›ืชื™ ื‘ืคื—ื–ื•ืชื™ื™ื›ื• ืงื™ื™ืžื™ืชื•. ื‘ืจื™ืฉื ืื™ื‘ืขื™ื ืœื›ื• ืœืžืฉืžืข, ืื™ ืžืฆื™ืชื•โ€”ืงื‘ืœื™ืชื•, ื•ืื™ ืœืโ€”ืœื ืงื‘ืœื™ืชื•. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืื ืŸ ื“ืกื’ื™ื ืŸ ื‘ืฉืœื™ืžื•ืชื ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืŸ: ืชึผึปืžึผึทืช ื™ึฐืฉืึธืจึดื™ื ืชึผึทื ึฐื—ึตื, ื”ื ืš ืื™ื ืฉื™ ื“ืกื’ืŸ ื‘ืขืœื™ืœื•ืชื ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ื”ื•: ื•ึฐืกึถืœึถืฃ ื‘ึผื•ึนื’ึฐื“ึดื™ื ื™ึฐืฉืึธื“ึผึตื.

ืฉื‘ืช ืคื—,ื-ื‘

And now we have a new section. Weโ€™ve pointed out that most of the psukim in this book are antithetical: contrasting the good and the bad (like ืฆื“ืงืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืชืฆื™ืœื; ื•ื‘ื”ื•ืช ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื ื™ืœื›ื“ื• in the last pasuk). I assume that the psukim that express a single idea are meant to be the chapter headings for what follows.

ื‘ืžื•ืช ืื“ื ืจืฉืข ืชืื‘ื“ ืชืงื•ื”; ื•ืชื•ื—ืœืช ืื•ื ื™ื ืื‘ื“ื”ืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื–

Not only will the ืจืฉืข be lost but all those who depend on him as well.

ื‘ืžื•ืช ืื“ื ืจืฉืข ืชืื‘ื“ ืชืงื•ื”: ืชืงื•ืช ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื•ื˜ื—ื™ื ื‘ื•.

ื•ืชื•ื—ืœืช ืื•ื ื™ื ืื‘ื“ื”: ืชื•ื—ืœืช ื‘ื ื™ื• ืฉื”ื ืื•ื ื• ืื‘ื“ื” ื›ื™ ื‘ื–ื›ื•ืชื• ืœื ืชื‘ื•ื ืœื”ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืื‘ืœ ื‘ืžื•ืช ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ื™ืฉ ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืžื‘ื˜ื— ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื–

You may think that the ืฆื“ื™ืง is suffering and the ืจืฉืข will be successful, so you better follow the ืจืฉืข. But thatโ€™s wrong.

ืฆื“ื™ืง ืžืฆืจื” ื ื—ืœืฅ; ื•ื™ื‘ื ืจืฉืข ืชื—ืชื™ื•ืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื:ื—

We have examples of this in ืชื ืดืš:

ื›ื“ ื›ื™ ื”ืžืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžื“ืชื ื”ืื’ื’ื™ ืฆืจืจ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™ื ื—ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื”ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™ื ืœืื‘ื“ื; ื•ื”ืคืœ ืคื•ืจ ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื•ืจืœ ืœื”ืžื ื•ืœืื‘ื“ืืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื‘ื‘ืื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืžืจ ืขื ื”ืกืคืจ ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืžื—ืฉื‘ืชื• ื”ืจืขื” ืืฉืจ ื—ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื”ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™ื ืขืœ ืจืืฉื•; ื•ืชืœื• ืืชื• ื•ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื• ืขืœ ื”ืขืฅืƒ

ืืกืชืจ ืคืจืง ื˜

ื› ื•ืœื’ื‘ืจื™ืŸ ื’ื‘ืจื™ ื—ื™ืœ ื“ื™ ื‘ื—ื™ืœื” ืืžืจ ืœื›ืคืชื” ืœืฉื“ืจืš ืžื™ืฉืš ื•ืขื‘ื“ ื ื’ื• ืœืžืจืžื ืœืืชื•ืŸ ื ื•ืจื ื™ืงื“ืชืืƒ ื›ื ื‘ืื“ื™ืŸ ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืœืš ื›ืคืชื• ื‘ืกืจื‘ืœื™ื”ื•ืŸ ืคื˜ืฉื™ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืจื‘ืœืชื”ื•ืŸ ื•ืœื‘ืฉื™ื”ื•ืŸ; ื•ืจืžื™ื• ืœื’ื•ื ืืชื•ืŸ ื ื•ืจื ื™ืงื“ืชืืƒ ื›ื‘ ื›ืœ ืงื‘ืœ ื“ื ื” ืžืŸ ื“ื™ ืžืœืช ืžืœื›ื ืžื—ืฆืคื” ื•ืืชื•ื ื ืื–ื” ื™ืชื™ืจื”; ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืœืš ื“ื™ ื”ืกืงื• ืœืฉื“ืจืš ืžื™ืฉืš ื•ืขื‘ื“ ื ื’ื• ืงื˜ืœ ื”ืžื•ืŸ ืฉื‘ื™ื‘ื ื“ื™ ื ื•ืจืืƒ

ื“ื ื™ืืœ ืคืจืง ื’

ื›ื“ ื‘ืื“ื™ืŸ ืžืœื›ื ืฉื’ื™ื ื˜ืื‘ ืขืœื•ื”ื™ ื•ืœื“ื ื™ืืœ ืืžืจ ืœื”ื ืกืงื” ืžืŸ ื’ื‘ื; ื•ื”ืกืง ื“ื ื™ืืœ ืžืŸ ื’ื‘ื ื•ื›ืœ ื—ื‘ืœ ืœื ื”ืฉืชื›ื— ื‘ื” ื“ื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื‘ืืœึพื”ื”ืƒ ื›ื” ื•ืืžืจ ืžืœื›ื ื•ื”ื™ืชื™ื• ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืœืš ื“ื™ ืื›ืœื• ืงืจืฆื•ื”ื™ ื“ื™ ื“ื ื™ืืœ ื•ืœื’ื•ื‘ ืืจื™ื•ืชื ืจืžื• ืื ื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ื ืฉื™ื”ื•ืŸ; ื•ืœื ืžื˜ื• ืœืืจืขื™ืช ื’ื‘ื ืขื“ ื“ื™ ืฉืœื˜ื• ื‘ื”ื•ืŸ ืืจื™ื•ืชื ื•ื›ืœ ื’ืจืžื™ื”ื•ืŸ ื”ื“ืงื•ืƒ

ื“ื ื™ืืœ ืคืจืง ื•

Shlomo continues to describe the danger to those who follow the ืจืฉืข:

ื˜ ื‘ืคื” ื—ื ืฃ ื™ืฉื—ืช ืจืขื”ื•; ื•ื‘ื“ืขืช ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ื™ื—ืœืฆื•ืƒ
ื™ ื‘ื˜ื•ื‘ ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืชืขืœืฅ ืงืจื™ื”; ื•ื‘ืื‘ื“ ืจืฉืขื™ื ืจื ื”ืƒ
ื™ื ื‘ื‘ืจื›ืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืชืจื•ื ืงืจืช; ื•ื‘ืคื™ ืจืฉืขื™ื ืชื”ืจืกืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ืคืจืง ื™ื

Things are better when the ืจืฉืข fails.

ืžื™ืชืชืŸ ืฉืœ ืจืฉืขื™ื ื”ื ืื” ืœื”ืŸ ื•ื”ื ืื” ืœืขื•ืœื, ื•ืœืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื, ืจืข ืœื”ืŸ ื•ืจืข ืœืขื•ืœื. ื™ื™ืŸ ื•ืฉื ื” ืœืจืฉืขื™ื, ื”ื ืื” ืœื”ืŸ ื•ื”ื ืื” ืœืขื•ืœื, ื•ืœืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื, ืจืข ืœื”ืŸ ื•ืจืข ืœืขื•ืœื.

ืžืฉื ื” ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื—:ื”

The gemara often says, ืื•ื™ ืœืจืฉืข ื•ืื•ื™ ืœืฉื›ื ื•.

ืชืื ื™ ืจื‘ ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ืžืื™ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื‘:ื›ื‘): ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึถื ืœึนื ืชึตืฆึฐืื•ึผ ืึดื™ืฉื ืžึดืคึผึถืชึทื— ื‘ึผึตื™ืชื•ึน ืขึทื“ ื‘ึผึนืงึถืจ? ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืชืŸ ืจืฉื•ืช ืœืžืฉื—ื™ืช, ืื™ื ื• ืžื‘ื—ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืœืจืฉืขื™ื. ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“, ืืœื ืฉืžืชื—ื™ืœ ืžืŸ ื”ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืชื—ืœื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื›ื:ื—): ื•ึฐื”ึดื›ึฐืจึทืชึผึดื™ ืžึดืžึผึตืšึฐ ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง ื•ึฐืจึธืฉืึธืข.

ื‘ื‘ื ืงืžื ืก,ื

ืžืฉืคื—ืช ื‘ื ื™ ืงื”ืช ื™ื—ื ื• ื•ื’ื•ืณ ืชื™ืžื ื”: ื•ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ ืœื”ื ื“ื’ืœ ืจืื•ื‘ืŸ ื”ื—ื•ื ื™ื ืชื™ืžื ื”; โ€ืื•ื™ ืœืจืฉืข ื•ืื•ื™ ืœืฉื›ื ื•โ€œ: ืœื›ืš ืœืงื• ืžื”ื ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื ื•ืžืืชื™ื ื•ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืขื ืงืจื— ื•ืขื“ืชื• ืฉื ืžืฉื›ื• ืขืžื”ื ื‘ืžื—ืœื•ืงืชื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื’:ื›ื˜

ื ืชืื™ ื”ืืจื‘ืœื™ ืื•ืžืจ: ื”ืจื—ืง ืžืฉื›ืŸ ืจืข, ื•ืืœ ืชืชื—ื‘ืจ ืœืจืฉืข, ื•ืืœ ืชืชื™ืืฉ ืžืŸ ื”ืคื•ืจืขื ื•ืช.

ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื ื–

Donโ€™t get too close to the ืจืฉืข, no matter how successful they are, because their end is coming and you will be destroyed along with them.

And then Shlomo returns to the concept of silence:

ื™ื‘ ื‘ื– ืœืจืขื”ื• ื—ืกืจ ืœื‘; ื•ืื™ืฉ ืชื‘ื•ื ื•ืช ื™ื—ืจื™ืฉืƒ
ื™ื’ ื”ื•ืœืš ืจื›ื™ืœ ืžื’ืœื” ืกื•ื“; ื•ื ืืžืŸ ืจื•ื— ืžื›ืกื” ื“ื‘ืจืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ืคืจืง ื™ื

But this is different from what he said in ืคืจืง ื™ (Silence is Golden): that was about not saying negative things. This is about keeping confidences. The gemara learns this from ื”ืณ Himself:

(ื•ื™ืงืจื ื:ื) [ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœื™ื• ืžืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“] ืœืืžืจ: ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืžื•ืกื™ื ื‘ืจ ื‘ืจื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืžืกื™ื ืžืฉืžื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืžื•ืกื™ื ืจื‘ื”: ืžื ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืื•ืžืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื—ื‘ื™ืจื•, ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘โ€ื‘ืœ ื™ืืžืจ ืขื“ ืฉื™ืืžืจ ืœื•: ืœืš ืืžื•ืจโ€œ? ืฉื ืืžืจ: ื•ึทื™ึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตืจ ื”ืณ ืึตืœึธื™ื• ืžึตืึนื”ึถืœ ืžื•ึนืขึตื“ ืœึตืืžึนืจ.

ื™ื•ืžื ื“,ื‘

Even a message from G-d has to be kept private, unless G-d says to reveal it.

ื•ื™ืœืš ืžืฉื” ื•ื™ืฉื‘โ€‰ ืืœึพื™ืชืจ ื—ืชื ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืืœื›ื” ื ื ื•ืืฉื•ื‘ื” ืืœ ืื—ื™ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ืืจืื” ื”ืขื•ื“ื ื—ื™ื™ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ืชืจื• ืœืžืฉื” ืœืš ืœืฉืœื•ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื“:ื™ื—

ื•ืืจืื” ื”ืขื•ื“ื ื—ื™ื™ื: ื•ืœื ื’ื™ืœื” ืœื• ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืฉืœื™ื—ื•ืช ื›ื™ ืœื ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ื•ืืžืจื•โ€ฆืฉื›ืœ ืฉืœื ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœืืžืจ ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื‘ืœ ืชืืžืจ.

ืื•ืจ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ืฉืžื•ืช ื“:ื™ื—

Revealing secrets is a form of ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข:โ€Ž ื”ื•ืœืš ืจื›ื™ืœ ืžื’ืœื” ืกื•ื“. Even if what you say is true, and even if it is not negative, it could harm others.

ืชื ื• ืจื‘ื ืŸ: ืžื ื™ื™ืŸ ืœื›ืฉื™ืฆื ืœื ื™ืืžืจ: ื”ืจื™ื ื™ ืžื–ื›ื” ื•ื—ื‘ื™ืจื™ ืžื—ื™ื™ื‘ื™ืŸ, ืื‘ืœ ืžื” ืืขืฉื” ืฉื—ื‘ื™ืจื™ ืจื‘ื• ืขืœื™? ืชืœืžื•ื“ ืœื•ืžืจ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื˜:ื˜ื–) ืœึนื ืชึตืœึตืšึฐ ืจึธื›ึดื™ืœ ื‘ึผึฐืขึทืžึผึถื™ืšึธ, ื•ืื•ืžืจ ื”ื•ึนืœึตืšึฐ ืจึธื›ึดื™ืœ ืžึฐื’ึทืœึผึถื” ืกื•ึนื“. ื”ื”ื•ื ืชืœืžื™ื“ื ื“ื ืคืง ืขืœื™ื” ืงืœื ื“ื’ืœื™ ืžื™ืœืชื ื“ืื™ืชืžืจ ื‘ื™ ืžื“ืจืฉื ื‘ืชืจ ืขืฉืจื™ืŸ ื•ืชืจืชื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืŸ. ืืคืงื™ื” ืจื‘ ืืžื™ ืžื‘ื™ ืžื“ืจืฉื. ืืžืจ: โ€ื“ื™ืŸ ื’ืœื™ ืจื–ื™ืโ€œ.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืœื,ื

A low trust society makes everything worse. Just be quiet.