The torah's view of the perfect person, by Rabbi shmuel gluck:
Shavuos is the Yom Tov when Jews celebrate the Torah, not as bystanders, but to celebrate its importance to the world, and in one’s personal life. If people succeed in recognizing the value of Torah during Shavuos, they can commit to a Torah lifestyle, the fulfilling of the Mitzvahs, and become transformed into the type of person Hashem expects people to become. In this article I’d like to describe what makes a person a true Talmid Chacham, and it’s based on several Gemaras.
Our Chachamim’s definition of a Talmid Chochom isn’t based on the amount of Torah that he’s learned; it’s about his character. Our Chachamim’s definitions are often different from those of other people. For instance, most people will define wealthy people, as people who have a lot of money. The Torah defines wealthy as people who are satisfied with what they have, Eizehu Oshir, Hasomeach Bichelko. When I was younger, I used to see that definition of wealth as “not true”; being more perception than reality. Once I was married, and raising a family, I realized that wealthy people who aren’t satisfied shouldn’t be called wealthy, because they’re “missing” too much money. Those that have what they need are not only emotionally, but also financially, wealthy.
The Gemara is sprinkled with several similar phrases; Kol Talmid Chochom She’ei’no …. Eino Talmid Chochom. Any Talmud Chochom that isn’t …. Isn’t a Talmid Chochom. Being learned, without having the appropriate character, creates a learned Am Ha'aretz, an ignoramus, and not a Talmid Chochom.
The following definitions are important: Many men may appear to be Talmidei Chachamim; however, under pressure, their behavior makes it clear that they aren’t, even though they may have amassed enough knowledge to appear as one. Under pressure, their behavior is that of an average person, not like people who’ve absorbed Torah values to be their guide and lifestyle.
Before I begin to explain the Gemara that describe a Talmid Chochom, I’d like to present an underlying mission of a Talmid Chochom. In Tana D’bei Eliyohu, Perek 18, it says: Any Talmid Chochom who eats from his own, sustains himself from his own, and doesn’t rely on others for support, is praiseworthy.
The first condition of a Talmid Chochom is to retain the responsibilities of the Baal Habos, by fulfilling all the obligations of the “average” person. A Talmid Chochom isn’t different from the average person. A Talmid Chochom must incorporate all the behaviors required of the average person, and add the traits of a Talmid Chochom into his lifestyle. Therefore, he should attend the same Minyan regularly, have a designated place in Shul, learn with his children, say please and thank you, tuck his shirt in, and not “cut ahead” in lines. A Talmid Chochom is the same, and “more” than the average person.
Below are five Gemara’s which define a Talmid Chochom:
1) Kol Talmid Chochom She’eino Kosho K’barzel, Eino Talmud Chochom. Any Talmid Chochom that isn’t hard as iron, isn’t a Talmid Chochom. Our Chachamim aren’t describing stubbornness; they’re describing resilience. A Talmid Chochom must not only have proper values, he must have the inner strength to act on those values, despite pressure to compromise. Attitudes, and beliefs, are important, but only if people use them.
2) Kol Talmid Chochom She’eino Nokem V’noter, Eino Talmid Chochom. Any Talmid Chochom that doesn’t respond strongly (to negative incidents) isn’t a Talmid Chochom. This comment goes against the “grain” of many people, who believe that people must always be accepting, forgiving, and nice, to everyone. That’s true in most, but not in all circumstances.
A Talmid Chochom understands that very few things matter, but those that matter, truly matter. There are behaviors that are wrong, and people must respond to them. Incidents may take place that may not be wrong, but create ripple effects which are terribly wrong. People must respond to them. The response should begin softly but, when that’s ineffective, they should respond in a stronger manner, even if it begins to appear as if the Talmid Chochom is “just” angry.
3) Kol Talmid Chochom Hamarbe Seuda B’chol Mokom, Sof Machriv Es Beiso. Any Talmid Chochom that enjoys large meals eventually destroys his house. Talmidei Chachamim don’t “party”. There’s a difference between taking a “needed break” and “letting go”. A Talmid Chochom never has an “off” day. While the analogy may seem funny, people don’t get a break from brushing their teeth, or any other personal hygiene responsibility. There’s no break from being a Talmid Chochom.
4) Kol Talmid Chochom She’eino Tocho K’baro, Eino Talmid Chochom. Any Talmid Chochom who hasn’t internalized the messages by which he professes to live, isn’t a Talmid Chochom. The requirement to internalize the message includes more people than only those who are dishonest, and act like Talmidei Chachamim, but are not interested in becoming them. It also includes those who are sincere about living a life of Torah values, but are too weak to act like a Talmid Chochom when there’s any form of pressure. A true Talmid Chochom is so sure that the advice of the Torah will enhance his life, that he acts on its advice, even when the advice seems counter intuitive.
5) Kol Talmid Chochom She’ein Bo Da’as, Beheimo N’veilo Tovo Mee’menu. Any Talmid Chochom that doesn’t have understanding, a dead animal is better than he is. This seems harsh and unfair. Most people believe that to have understanding, or as I would describe it, clarity, like intelligence, is something people have, or don’t have.
The Malbim defines Da’as as a willingness to act on what people know to be true. Many people avoid clarity because of the responsibilities it’ll create. Clarity is often obvious to those that are objective, even if it’s only on a subconscious level. Under these circumstances, their clarity is “proof” that they believe, and have enough conviction, to act as the Torah that they’ve learned.
Accurately defining a Talmid Chochom is important for three reasons: 1) It allows people to pick their friends wisely, and avoid unhealthy ones; 2) It allows people to be less critical of others who look like Talmidei Chachamim, and realize that although they may be nice people, they fall short of the Torah’s definition of Talmidei Chachamim; 3) it’ll teach people how to “raise” themselves and their children.
Wishing everyone a meaningful Shavuos, one that’ll enhance their clarity of what Hashem expects of them, and that the Torah is the tool to achieve those expectations.
Our Chachamim’s definition of a Talmid Chochom isn’t based on the amount of Torah that he’s learned; it’s about his character. Our Chachamim’s definitions are often different from those of other people. For instance, most people will define wealthy people, as people who have a lot of money. The Torah defines wealthy as people who are satisfied with what they have, Eizehu Oshir, Hasomeach Bichelko. When I was younger, I used to see that definition of wealth as “not true”; being more perception than reality. Once I was married, and raising a family, I realized that wealthy people who aren’t satisfied shouldn’t be called wealthy, because they’re “missing” too much money. Those that have what they need are not only emotionally, but also financially, wealthy.
The Gemara is sprinkled with several similar phrases; Kol Talmid Chochom She’ei’no …. Eino Talmid Chochom. Any Talmud Chochom that isn’t …. Isn’t a Talmid Chochom. Being learned, without having the appropriate character, creates a learned Am Ha'aretz, an ignoramus, and not a Talmid Chochom.
The following definitions are important: Many men may appear to be Talmidei Chachamim; however, under pressure, their behavior makes it clear that they aren’t, even though they may have amassed enough knowledge to appear as one. Under pressure, their behavior is that of an average person, not like people who’ve absorbed Torah values to be their guide and lifestyle.
Before I begin to explain the Gemara that describe a Talmid Chochom, I’d like to present an underlying mission of a Talmid Chochom. In Tana D’bei Eliyohu, Perek 18, it says: Any Talmid Chochom who eats from his own, sustains himself from his own, and doesn’t rely on others for support, is praiseworthy.
The first condition of a Talmid Chochom is to retain the responsibilities of the Baal Habos, by fulfilling all the obligations of the “average” person. A Talmid Chochom isn’t different from the average person. A Talmid Chochom must incorporate all the behaviors required of the average person, and add the traits of a Talmid Chochom into his lifestyle. Therefore, he should attend the same Minyan regularly, have a designated place in Shul, learn with his children, say please and thank you, tuck his shirt in, and not “cut ahead” in lines. A Talmid Chochom is the same, and “more” than the average person.
Below are five Gemara’s which define a Talmid Chochom:
1) Kol Talmid Chochom She’eino Kosho K’barzel, Eino Talmud Chochom. Any Talmid Chochom that isn’t hard as iron, isn’t a Talmid Chochom. Our Chachamim aren’t describing stubbornness; they’re describing resilience. A Talmid Chochom must not only have proper values, he must have the inner strength to act on those values, despite pressure to compromise. Attitudes, and beliefs, are important, but only if people use them.
2) Kol Talmid Chochom She’eino Nokem V’noter, Eino Talmid Chochom. Any Talmid Chochom that doesn’t respond strongly (to negative incidents) isn’t a Talmid Chochom. This comment goes against the “grain” of many people, who believe that people must always be accepting, forgiving, and nice, to everyone. That’s true in most, but not in all circumstances.
A Talmid Chochom understands that very few things matter, but those that matter, truly matter. There are behaviors that are wrong, and people must respond to them. Incidents may take place that may not be wrong, but create ripple effects which are terribly wrong. People must respond to them. The response should begin softly but, when that’s ineffective, they should respond in a stronger manner, even if it begins to appear as if the Talmid Chochom is “just” angry.
3) Kol Talmid Chochom Hamarbe Seuda B’chol Mokom, Sof Machriv Es Beiso. Any Talmid Chochom that enjoys large meals eventually destroys his house. Talmidei Chachamim don’t “party”. There’s a difference between taking a “needed break” and “letting go”. A Talmid Chochom never has an “off” day. While the analogy may seem funny, people don’t get a break from brushing their teeth, or any other personal hygiene responsibility. There’s no break from being a Talmid Chochom.
4) Kol Talmid Chochom She’eino Tocho K’baro, Eino Talmid Chochom. Any Talmid Chochom who hasn’t internalized the messages by which he professes to live, isn’t a Talmid Chochom. The requirement to internalize the message includes more people than only those who are dishonest, and act like Talmidei Chachamim, but are not interested in becoming them. It also includes those who are sincere about living a life of Torah values, but are too weak to act like a Talmid Chochom when there’s any form of pressure. A true Talmid Chochom is so sure that the advice of the Torah will enhance his life, that he acts on its advice, even when the advice seems counter intuitive.
5) Kol Talmid Chochom She’ein Bo Da’as, Beheimo N’veilo Tovo Mee’menu. Any Talmid Chochom that doesn’t have understanding, a dead animal is better than he is. This seems harsh and unfair. Most people believe that to have understanding, or as I would describe it, clarity, like intelligence, is something people have, or don’t have.
The Malbim defines Da’as as a willingness to act on what people know to be true. Many people avoid clarity because of the responsibilities it’ll create. Clarity is often obvious to those that are objective, even if it’s only on a subconscious level. Under these circumstances, their clarity is “proof” that they believe, and have enough conviction, to act as the Torah that they’ve learned.
Accurately defining a Talmid Chochom is important for three reasons: 1) It allows people to pick their friends wisely, and avoid unhealthy ones; 2) It allows people to be less critical of others who look like Talmidei Chachamim, and realize that although they may be nice people, they fall short of the Torah’s definition of Talmidei Chachamim; 3) it’ll teach people how to “raise” themselves and their children.
Wishing everyone a meaningful Shavuos, one that’ll enhance their clarity of what Hashem expects of them, and that the Torah is the tool to achieve those expectations.
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