A Slow Reading of The Introduction to "The Path of the Just" (Part 2)

"The advantage to be gotten, therefore, from the reading of this book (i.e., "The Path of the Just") will not come about with a single reading of it."

-- In order to take in the truth as we must and stay the course, we have no choice but to hear, or, read it again and again like a pledge of allegiance made each day. Because to hear it once is -- by definition -- to never hear it again. And besides, ...

"It is quite probable that the reader will find little if anything in his first reading of it ("The Path of the Just") that he would not have known beforehand."

-- ... which would lead him or her to scoff at what's written here, since nothing delights and captures the mind like the thunder and lightning of novelty, which will be the exception to the rule here. (Many have, in fact, delved deeply into "The Path of the Just" to uncover novelty and succeeded, since the mind wants nothing better than to distract the heart, our intended audience. But, again, the search for novelty is beside Luzzatto's point, while taking-in what's said here *is* the point.)

"(The book's) advantage comes in the reader's review and meticulousness. That way he will recall what he might have offhandedly forgotten and place upon his heart an incumbency previously unrevealed."

-- So, what's asked of us is to read and reread "The Path of the Just" and to conscientiously apply it to our lives, so as to keep it ever-fresh and in mind, and in order to affirm to ourselves by degree what's expected of us if we're to be the people we're capable of being.


Translation of text (c) 1996 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
Original comments (c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

"The Way of G-d" Ch.6, Paragraph 12

RAMCHAL

-- A Reworking of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's "The Way of G-d"

Rabbi Yaakov Feldman's series on www.torah.org

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"The Way of G-d" Ch.6, Paragraph 12

A lot changes in the universe when the Holy Days and Shabbat come about. All sorts of intangible things begin to shift here and there to make room for a whole other order of being, and for new blessings and holiness. And our prayers reflect all that, as would be expected.

So we're taught to offer different, special blessings in the middle of Sh'mone Esrei those times rather than the standard weekday ones, in order to reflect those changes and help bring them about, which then furthers the perfection of creation. We find that we also need to offer fewer middle-blessings during the Holy Days and Shabbat, because of the intrinsic holiness of the times.

Let's now delve into the rest of our daily prayers, on a mystical level.


(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman and Torah.org

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

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AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman's translation of "The Gates of Repentance" has been reissued at *at a discount*! You can order it right now by logging onto www.tinyurl.com/49s8t (or by going to www.rowman.com and searching for it). Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has translated and commented upon "The Gates of Repentance", "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). And his new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available from Judaica Press.
His works are available in bookstores and in various locations on the Web.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled "Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal".

Feldman Speaks

I thought in different ways this Pesach and decided to speak out once in a while in this blog, as I've grown tired of all the Orthodox self-loathing in the blogosphere and wanted to sit behind the wheel and steer as best as I could. I won't often do this I assure you, because there's just too much gorgeous and splendid Torah to learn and so little time, while the issues raised in the blogosphere burst, smack, then run in seconds.

Pesach (in particular, Yom Tov and Shabbos in general) is glorious and often brings out the best in us. We sit for hours in shul daavening and singing, day after day, wear our best, cook and bake our finest, do the holy things our people have been doing for millennia, and learn at leisure and at length. It's a sight to behold and worthy of great pride. We could only imagine that the Ribbono Shel Olam is taken by our dedication.

Now, I've been surrounded by Jews most of my life and continue to be for most of the day, from family to friends, to those I associate with on the outside, and I'm delighted. We're a delicious people, pretty and intense; we shine and hum. I love us. Let that be said outright and often.

-- Rabbi Yaakov Feldman