We are starting the third perek of ืืฉืื. Shlomo continues with the metaphor of a parent lecturing their child.
ื ืื ื ืชืืจืชื ืื ืชืฉืื; ืืืฆืืชื ืืฆืจ ืืืื
ื ืื ืืจื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืช ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืกืืคื ืืื
ื ืืกื ืืืืช ืื ืืขืืื;
ืงืฉืจื ืขื ืืจืืจืืชืื; ืืชืื ืขื ืืื ืืืื
ื ืืืฆื ืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืขืื ื ืืืงืื ืืืืื
The previous perek said that I should love wisdom and be willing to learn from all sources, but there exists dangerous sources of apparent wisdom that push you into a vicious circle that will drive you further and further from the truth. You want to know which voice to listen to? Remember the Torah I am teaching you, and learn the wisdom that is consistent with that. Then you will have ืืจื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืช ืืืื.
That is a striking expression: length of days, and years of life. Those are two different things, and for an authentic fulfilled life, you need both.
It is not the years in your life that count, it is the life in your years.
ืืืืจืื ืืงื ืื ืืืืื; ืืืณ ืืจื ืืช ืืืจืื ืืืื
ืืฉ ืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืงื ื ืืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ื ืืืงื ื ืืื ืืื ืืงื ื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืงื ื.
The ultimate reward in this world is ืฉืืื, not just in the sense of โpeaceโ but of โcompletenessโ..
ืืืจ ืจืื ืฉืืขืื ืื ืืืคืชื, ืื ืืฆื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืง ืืจืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืฉืืื, ืฉื ืืืจ: (ืชืืืื ืื:ืื) ืืณ ืขึนื ืึฐืขึทืึผืึน ืึดืชึผึตื ืืณ ืึฐืึธืจึตืึฐ ืึถืช ืขึทืึผืึน ืึทืฉืึผึธืืึนื.
ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืืขืฆืื ืฉืื ืืืจืืืช ืฉืืขืืื ืืื ืืชืงืืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืืื.
And now, for the first time in the ืกืคืจ, Shlomo offers us some actual advice: ืืกื ืืืืช ืื ืืขืืื, ืงืฉืจื ืขื ืืจืืจืืชืื.โ ืืกื ืืืืช is a common hendiadys in ืชื ืดื, and it has a specific meaning:
ืืกื ืืืืช: ืืกื ืฉืขืืฉืื ืขื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืกื ืฉื ืืืช, ืฉืืื ื ืืฆืคื ืืชืฉืืื ืืืื.
Mishleiโs mussar message number one: Do the right thing without the expectation of reward.
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best youโve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your G-d; It was never between you and them anyway.
Metaphorically ืงืฉืจื ืขื ืืจืืจืืชืื; ืืชืื ืขื ืืื ืืื; speak that way and feel that way. The goal is ืืืฆื ืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืขืื ื ืืืงืื ืืืื, and ืื ืืขืื ื ืืืงืื comes from ืื ืืขืื ื ืืื.
ืื ืฉืจืื ืืืจืืืช ื ืืื ืืืื ื, ืจืื ืืืงืื ื ืืื ืืืื ื.
Your ethical goal is not Aristotleโs ฮตแฝฮดฮฑฮนฮผฮฟฮฝฮฏฮฑ, happiness in the sense of โliving wellโ, but the well-being of others. So Mother Teresa is not literally right; it is โbetween you and themโ, not in terms of โtheirโ judgment, but in terms of their well-being.
Now, Shlomo introduces Mishleiโs mussar message number two: imitatio dei. Your actions with respect to others should mimic G-dโs actions with respect to all human beings.
ื ืืื ืื ืืณ ืืื ืืื; ืืื ืืื ืชื ืื ืชืฉืขืื
ื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืขืื; ืืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืจืืชืืื
ื ืื ืชืื ืืื ืืขืื ืื; ืืจื ืืช ืืณ ืืกืืจ ืืจืขื
ื ืจืคืืืช ืชืื ืืฉืจื; ืืฉืงืื ืืขืฆืืืชืืื
This is not talking about what we usually call โืืืืืืโ; trusting that ืืณ will protect and provide for us. This is talking about ืื ืชืื ืืื ืืขืื ืื. As we have emphasized in our study of ืืฉืื, logic doesnโt lead to morality.
Tell me yourself, I challenge youโanswer. Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creatureโthat baby beating its breast with its fist, for instanceโand to found that edifice on its unavenged tears, would you consent to be the architect on those conditions?โฆAnd can you admit the idea that men for whom you are building it would agree to accept their happiness on the foundation of the unexpiated blood of a little victim? And accepting it would remain happy for ever?
The Torahโs anwer is ืืื ืืจืืื ืืขืื. All your ways should be with ืืขืช, an intimate recognition, of His ways.
ืืขืชื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืฉืื ืืขืื; ืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืช ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืื ืืชื ืืืขืื ืืช ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ื ืคืฉืื
ืื ืื ืฉืืจ ืชืฉืืจืื ืืช ืื ืืืฆืื ืืืืช ืืฉืจ ืื ืื ืืฆืื ืืชืื ืืขืฉืชื; ืืืืื ืืช ืืณ ืืืงืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืงื ืืื
ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ื? ืืืื ืืืจ ื ืืืจ (ืืืจืื ื:ืื) ืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืฉ ืืืืื ืืื. ืืื ืืืื ืืืจ ืืืืชืื ืฉื ืืงืืดื: ืื ืืื ืืืืืฉ ืขืจืืืืโฆืืฃ ืืชื ืืืืฉ ืขืจืืืื; ืืงืืดื ืืืงืจ ืืืืืโฆืืฃ ืืชื ืืงืจ ืืืืื; ืืงืืดื ื ืืื ืืืืืโฆืืฃ ืืชื ื ืื ืืืืื; ืืงืืดื ืงืืจ ืืชืื โฆืืชื ืงืืืจ ืืชืืโฆ
And then you will be metaphorically healthy at your core: ืจืคืืืช ืชืื ืืฉืจื ืืฉืงืื ืืขืฆืืืชืื.
ืจืคืืืช ืชืื ืืฉืจื: ืืืืื, ืฉืจื ืืื (ืฉืืจ ื:ื) ืฉึธืืจึฐืจึตืึฐ, ืืืื ืืืืืจื.
ืืฉืงืื ืืขืฆืืืชืื: ืืื ืืืื ืืขื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืื ืื:ืื) ๏ฌตืึนืึท ืขึทืฆึฐื๏ญืชึธืื ืึฐ๏ฌชึป๏ญึถื.
ื ืจืื ืื ืื ืคืืจืืฉ ืขื ืื ืื, ืืืืจืื ื ืืคืจืง ืขืืื ืขืจืืคื (ืกืืื ืื,ืขื) ืืืืืจื ืฉื ืืื ื ืืฆืจ ืืืื, ืืืฉืื ืฉืจืฉื ืืืื ืืืืื. ื ืืฆื ืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืจืฉ ืืืืื.
Both parts of our pasuk, regarding the navel and the marrow, are speaking about the same issue. They are addressing the sourceโฆThey are both about getting to the most internal and original part of our identity.
To be authentically healthy, we have to embody ืืื ืืจืืื ืืขืื.
Mishleiโs mussar message number three: your gifts are G-d-given. Use them to serve G-d.
ื ืืื ืืช ืืณ ืืืื ื; ืืืจืืฉืืช ืื ืชืืืืชืื
ื ืืืืืื ืืกืืื ืฉืืข; ืืชืืจืืฉ ืืงืืื ืืคืจืฆืื
Literally, this is talking about money:
ืืฉืืืื ืจืณ ืืืื ื ืืื ืืงื ืืจืืฉ ืืงืืฉ. ืืืจ ืืื: ืืืื ืื ืคืกืืงืื. ืืดื (ืืืจืื ืื:ืื) ืขึทืฉืึผึตืจ ืชึผึฐืขึทืฉืึผึตืจ. ืืดื: ืืืื โืขืฉืจ ืชืขืฉืจโ? ืืดื: ืขึทืฉึผืึตืจ ืืฉืืื ืฉืึถืชึผึดืชึฐืขึทืฉึผืึตืจ. ืืืจ ืืื: ืื ื ืื? ืืดื: ืืื ื ืกื! ืืืจ ืืื: ืืื ืฉืจื ืื ืกืืืื ืืืงืืดื? ืืืืชืื (ืืืจืื ื:ืื) ืึนื ืชึฐื ึทืกึผืึผ ืึถืช ืืณ! ืืดื: ืืื ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืฉืขืื: ืืืฅ ืืื, ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืืื ื:ื) ืึธืึดืืืึผ ืึถืช ืึผืื ืึทืึผึทืขึฒืฉืึตืจ ืึถื ืึผึตืืช ืึธืืึนืฆึธืจ ืึดืืึดื ืึถืจึถืฃ ืึผึฐืึตืืชึดื ืึผืึฐืึธื ืึผื ึดื ื ึธื ืึผึธืึนืืช ืึธืึทืจ ืืณ ืฆึฐืึธืืึนึพืช ืึดื ืึนื ืึถืคึฐืชึผึทื ืึธืึถื ืึตืช ืึฒืจึปืึผืึนืช ืึทืฉึผืึธืึทืึดื ืึทืึฒืจึดืืงึนืชึดื ืึธืึถื ืึผึฐืจึธืึธื ืขึทื ืึผึฐืึดื ืึธื.
But ืกืคืจ ืืฉืื is all about ืืฉืืื.
ืืืื ื: ืืื ืื ืฉืื ื ื.
And ืืจืืฉืืช ืื ืชืืืืชื is a metaphor to your highest attribute, that which distinguishes you from the beasts: your intelligence. Use that to honor ืืณ.
ืืืื ืืงื ืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืื: ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืจืืฉืืช ืืืืืื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืฉืชืดื โืืจืืฉืืชโ โืืืืืืชืโ, ืฆืจืื ืืชื ืืืืืืจื ืืืณ. ืืืืขืช ืื ืืงืื ืืืืืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืชื, ืืื ืชืืื ืืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืืก ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืชื, ืจืง ืืจื ืืช ืืณ ืืกืจ ืืจืข ืืขืฉืืช ืืคื ืคืงืืืื ืืืื ืืชืืจืื ืื ืื ืืืืชืื.
Mishleiโs mussar message number four: Learn from tough times.
ืื ืืืกืจ ืืณ ืื ื ืื ืชืืืก; ืืื ืชืงืฅ ืืชืืืืชืื
ืื ืื ืืช ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืณ ืืืืื;
ืืืื ืืช ืื ืืจืฆืื
The other ืกืคืจื ืืืช have a similar message: There is such a thing as ืืกืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื.
ืื ื ืืฉืจื ืื ืืฉ ืืืืื ื ืืืึพื; ืืืืกืจ ืฉืื ืื ืชืืืกื
ืืฉืจื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืืกืจื ื ืึพื; ืืืชืืจืชื ืชืืืื ืื
ืคืืืื ืื ืจืื ืืขืงื ืืจ ืืืื ืืจืื ืืื ืืจ ืื ืื ื: ืื ืืืจ, ืืื ืื ืืกืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื? ืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืื ืชืืจื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืชืืืื ืฆื:ืื) ืึทืฉืึฐืจึตื ืึทืึผึถืึถืจ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืชึผึฐืึทืกึผึฐืจึถื ึผืึผ ืึผึธึพืึผ ืึผืึดืชึผืึนืจึธืชึฐืึธ ืชึฐืึทืึผึฐืึถื ึผืึผ. ืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืกืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืื ืชืคืื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืชืืืืื ืกื:ื) ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืึฑืึนึพืึดืื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึนื ืึตืกึดืืจ ืชึฐึผืคึดืึธึผืชึดื ืึฐืึทืกึฐืึผืึน ืึตืึดืชึดึผื. ืืืจ ืืื ืจืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืจืณ ืืืื ืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืจืณ ืืืื ืืจ ืืื ืืดืจ ืืืื ื: ืืื ืืืื ืืกืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื.
There exist ืืกืืจืื that may be painful, but if we can learn from themโืืื ืืื ืืืื ืชืืจืโand have a relationship with ืืณโโืืื ืืื ืืืื ืชืคืืโthen they are ืืกืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื. They are gifts from ืืงืืดื.
Such ืืกืืจืื come to teach a lesson, and happy is the one who can see that: โHappy is the one whom ืืณ chastises and learns from Your Torahโ. Itโs a slightly different approach from the ืื ืื ืืืืื. The lesson of ืืกืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื is not that it will be OK in the end, but that these difficult times are actually inherently good. It is the suffering that is beneficial (a trivial example is getting enough exercise). There is a contrast in ืกืคืจ ืืืจืื:
ืื ืืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืจืืืช ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืฉืจ ืืฉื ืืืฉ ืืช ืื ื ืืื ืืืจื ืืฉืจ ืืืืชื ืขื ืืืื ืขื ืืืงืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืืืณ ืืืงืืืื
ืืืืขืช ืขื ืืืื; ืื ืืืฉืจ ืืืกืจ ืืืฉ ืืช ืื ื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืกืจืื
When ืืณ carries you ืืืฉืจ ืืฉื ืืืฉ ืืช ืื ื, you end up ืืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืืืณ. The state of ืืืขืช ืขื ืืืื is only ืืืฉืจ ืืืกืจ ืืืฉ ืืช ืื ื.
Moses asks, โDid you not feel held by G-d as He carried you?โ But the question answers itself: a child that is too small to walk on its own does not have the meta-consciousness to appreciate its dependence. Babies cry. Itโs expected. You canโt reason with a baby and say โWhy didnโt you believe in Me?โ A baby wants to be held, needs to be held, but only knows this need when it is unfulfilled. The baby comes into a sense of self only by being deprived. The โIโ emerges only with the โNot-I.โ
The people lack belief because they lack maturity. Hereโs an irony: the child that walks independently can believe, but the child that needs to be carried cannot. Said differently: Spiritual distance from G-d enables belief in G-d, while spiritual proximity to G-d may obstruct it. Being carried by G-d is a form of intimacy in one sense, but itโs also a form of distance in another: without a real separation from G-d, and space between themselves and G-d, the people donโt know whatโs carrying them. The people canโt know G-d unless they know themselves. And how can they know themselves when theyโve spent hundreds of years in a state of bondage?
Shlomo returns to the metaphor of ืืืื being more valuable than riches:
ืื ืืฉืจื ืืื ืืฆื ืืืื; ืืืื ืืคืืง ืชืืื ืื
ืื ืื ืืื ืกืืจื ืืกืืจ ืืกืฃ; ืืืืจืืฅ ืชืืืืชืื
ืื ืืงืจื ืืื ืืคื ืื ืื; ืืื ืืคืฆืื ืื ืืฉืื ืืื
We saw this in the last perek:
ืื ืชืืงืฉื ื ืืืกืฃ; ืืืืืืื ืื ืชืืคืฉื ืื
And we will see this metaphor again later:
ืืฉืช ืืื ืื ืืืฆื; ืืจืืง ืืคื ืื ืื ืืืจืื
And the conclusion of this section is a series of famous psukim:
ืื ืืจื ืืืื ืืืืื ื; ืืฉืืืืื ืขืฉืจ ืืืืืื
ืื ืืจืืื ืืจืื ื ืขื; ืืื ื ืชืืืืชืื ืฉืืืื
ืื ืขืฅ ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืงืื ืื; ืืชืืืื ืืืฉืจื
ืืืื will grant you all sorts of good things if you hold on to it. ืชืืืื usually means โthose who support itโ, but Rashi says that here, it means that it is supporting you when you get close to it.
ืืชืืืืื ืืืืฉืจ: ืืืชืงืจืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืืฉืื ืชืืืื ืฉืืกืคืจ ืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืื.
And this metaphor of ืืืื as an ืขืฅ ืืืื, a tree of life, comes up a lot in ืืฉืื:
ืคืจื ืฆืืืง ืขืฅ ืืืื; ืืืงื ื ืคืฉืืช ืืืื
ืชืืืืช ืืืฉืื ืืืื ืื; ืืขืฅ ืืืื ืชืืื ืืืื
ืืจืคื ืืฉืื ืขืฅ ืืืื; ืืกืืฃ ืื ืฉืืจ ืืจืืื
The image of course comes from ืื ืขืื:
ื ืืืืข ืืณ ืืืงืื ืื ืืขืื ืืงืื; ืืืฉื ืฉื ืืช ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืฆืจื ื ืืืฆืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืขืฅ ื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืขืฅ ืืืืื ืืชืื ืืื ืืขืฅ ืืืขืช ืืื ืืจืขื
ืื ืืืืืจ ืืณ ืืืงืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืืขืช ืืื ืืจืข; ืืขืชื ืคื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืืงื ืื ืืขืฅ ืืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืื ืืืฉืืืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืื ืขืื ืืขืื ืืช ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืงื ืืฉืื ืื ืืืืจืฉ ืืช ืืืื; ืืืฉืื ืืงืื ืืื ืขืื ืืช ืืืจืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืืจื ืืืชืืคืืช ืืฉืืจ ืืช ืืจื ืขืฅ ืืืืืื
The idea of an ืขืฅ ืืืื is not that ืืื could eat of it once and live forever; it supports life as long as one continues to consume it.
ืืขืฅ ืืืืื: ืคืจืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืืืช ืืืื ืื ืืฉื ืฉืืืืืืชื ืืฉืื ืืืฉืจ ืืืืืืืช ืืื ืืืชื ืฉื ืืชื ืืื ื ืืื ืืกืจืื, ืืืื ืืื ืข ืืชืืช ืืืืฃ, ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืชืืืืืช ืืืืืจื: ืืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืดืจ ืื ืืื ืืช.
We donโt have the ืขืฅ ืืืื of ืื ืขืื any more, but if we continue to consume the metaphoric fruit of ืชืืจื and ืืืื, we will continue to have ืืจื ืืืื.
The idea (if not the literal words) of an ืขืฅ ืืืื comes up after ืืฆืืืช ืืฆืจืื:
ืื ืืืกืข ืืฉื ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืกืืฃ ืืืฆืื ืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืจ; ืืืืื ืฉืืฉืช ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืฆืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืจืชื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืชืช ืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืจืื ืื; ืขื ืื ืงืจื ืฉืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืื ื ืืขื ืขื ืืฉื ืืืืจ ืื ื ืฉืชืื ืื ืืืฆืขืง ืื ืืณ ืืืืจืื ืืณ ืขืฅ ืืืฉืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืชืงื ืืืื; ืฉื ืฉื ืื ืืง ืืืฉืคื ืืฉื ื ืกืืื ืื ืืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืืข ืชืฉืืข ืืงืื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืืฉืจ ืืขืื ืื ืชืขืฉื ืืืืื ืช ืืืฆืืชืื ืืฉืืจืช ืื ืืงืื ืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืชื ืืืฆืจืื ืื ืืฉืื ืขืืื ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืจืคืืื
The Torah is obviously connecting the ืขืฅ of ืืืืชืงื ืืืื with ืฉื ืฉื ืื ืืง ืืืฉืคื. The ืขืฅ represents the rules, the structure of the society that ืื ื ืืฉืจืื would have to form.
ืืขื ืืจื ืืคืฉื, ืืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืื ืืจื ืืฆืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืืืชื ืืฆืจืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืขื ืืืื ืื ืืจืฅ ื ืืฉืืช, ืื ืืื ืื ืืงืจื ืืงโฆืืืงืจื ืืฉืคื ืืืืืชื ืืฉืืขืจ ืืืืื.
ืืืจื ื ืชื ืืื ืืงืฆืช ืคืจืฉืืืช ืฉื ืชืืจื ืฉืืชืขืกืงื ืืื, ืฉืืช ืืคืจื ืืืื ืืืื ืื.
ืฉืืช ืืคืจื ืืืืื ืืืื ืื: ืคืืจืืฉ ืืืืชืื โืืงโ, ืืื ื ืงืจื ืกืชื โืืงโ ืจืง ืคืจื ืืืืื, ืฉืืื ืืขื ืืืฆืื. ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืชื โืืฉืคืโ.
The Torah emphasizes that this ืขืฅ was a form of ืืืจืื, teaching:
ืจืื ืฉืืขืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืจ: ืืืจ ืื ืืชืืจื ืืจืืื, ืฉื ืืืจ โืืืืจืื ืื ืขืฅโ. โืืืจืืื ืื ืขืฅโ ืืื ื ืืืืจ, ืืื โืืืืจืืโ, ืืขื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ: (ืืฉืื ื:ื) ืึทืึผึนืจึตื ึดื ืึทืึผึนืืึถืจ ืึดื ืึดืชึฐืืืึฐ ืึผึฐืึธืจึทื ืึดืึผึถืึธ ืฉืึฐืึนืจ ืึดืฆึฐืึบืชึทื ืึถืึฐืึตืโฆืืืจืฉื ืจืฉืืืืช ืืืืจืื: ืืจืืื ืืืจื ืชืืจื, ืฉื ืืฉืื ืืขืฅ, ืฉื ืืืจ: โืขืฅ ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืงืื ืื, ืืชืืืื ืืืฉืจโ.
Iโve mentioned before that water is a symbol of chaos, society without structure.
ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืฆืืจื ืืืืจื, ืืืื ื ืงืจืืื ืชืืื ืืืฉืื ืจืืื, ืืื ืชืืฆื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืืื. ืืคื ืฉืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืฆืืจื ืืืืื ืืช ืืืืจ, ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืฆืืจื ืืืืจื, ืืืคืืื ืืืื, ืฉืื ืืื ืฆืืจื ืืงืืืืช, ืืืฉืื ืจืืื.
And that was the problem at ืืจื:
ืืืืืื ืืจืชื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืชืืช ืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืจืื ืื]: ืืืจ ืจืณ ืืื ืืื โืื ืืจืื ืืโ, ืืืืจ ืืื ืืจ ืืืขืฉืื.
The tree is a symbol of the structure that allows the ืืื to become sweet and life-giving. But itโs not a one time ืฉื ืฉื ืื ืืง ืืืฉืคื; we have to hold on to it.
ืืืืงื ืืืืืช ืืชืืื ืืขืงืืืืช: ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืจืง ืืืฉืจ ืืื ืืืืืง ืืืืื ืืืืจื ืืื. ืขืืื ืจืืื ืืกืคืจืื ืขื ืืืืืจืื ืฉืืฆืื ืืืคืฉ ืืช ืืืชื ืขืฅ ืืืืืโืขืฅ ืฉื ืืชื ืืืืืืื ืืื ื ืฆืโืื ืืฉืื; ืืืื ืืคื ืกืคืจ ืืฉืื, ืขืฅ ืืืืื ื ืืฆื ืืืืืื ืืชืืืืืช ืืืจืื ืืืืื, ืืื ืืืืืื ืื-ืคืขืืืช ืฉื ืคืจื ืคืืื.
Malbim adds that even when we have ืืืื (in the sense of phronesis, the knowledge of ethical behavior), we have to continue to be ืชืืืื.
ืขืฅ ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืงืื ืื: ืืฉ ืฆืืืง ืืืฉ ืืืืฉ; ืืฆืืืง ืืื ืื ืฉืืืข ืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืฆืจื ืืกืืชื ืืขืืืจ ืขื ืืงืื, ืืืืืืฉ ืืื ืื ืฉืืืขื ื ืืื ืืจืข ืจืง ืืื ืืืืฉ ืืช ืืฆืจื. ืขืคืดื ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืขืฅ ืืืื ืืืืืืงืื ืื, ืืืืื ื ืืืืืืฉ, ืฉืืื ืืืืืืง ืื ืืขื ืืจืื, ืืืื ืืืืื ืชืจืฆื ืืืคืจื ืืื ื ืื ืืืขื ืืชื ืื ืื, ืจืง ืืื ืืืืืง ืื ืืื ืขื ืืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืฆืืช ืื ืืื ืืืืฉ ืืช ืืฆืจื. ืืชืืืืื ืืืืฉืจ, ืืืื ื ืื ืฉืืื ืฉืืืข ืืื ืืืชื ืืชื ืื ืื ืืืืื, ืฉืื ืืดืฆ ืืืืืืง ืื ืืขื ืืจืื ืจืง ืืชืืื ืืืชื, ืืื ืืืืฉืจ. ืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืจืืืชื, ืื ืืืช ืฉืืืืืฉ ืืื ืืืืฉืจ ืืืืฉืจ ืื ืคืฉ ืืดืฆ ืืืืืืขื ื, ืฉืืืช ืืืขื ื ืืขืฆืื ื ืฉืืคื ืืืื ืฆืขืจื ืืืืืฉ ืืช ืืืฆืจ ืืืื ืืฉืจื ืืฉืืจื, ืื ืืคืื ืฆืขืจื ืืืจื. ืจืง ืฉืืืื ื ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืคื ืืืืช ืืืืช ืฉืืืื ืขื ืืฆืจื ืืืืฉื ืืงืฆืจืช ืืช ืืืื, ืขืืดื ืฉืืื ืื ืขืฅ ืืืื, ืฉืืืจืืช ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืขืฅ ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืขืืื.
ืืืฆื ืืชืืื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉืืืืื ืชืฉืืื ืืฆืื ืืืืข ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืคื ืืืืช, ืืื ืขืืื ืขื ืืขืชื ื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉืืจ ืืดื, ืืืืืขื ื ืฉืื ืชืืืืื ืืืืฉืจ.
And with that, Shlomo turns to the nature of Divine wisdom, and why it should be the basis of our ethics.