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Friday

י"ט אדר ב’ התשפ"ד

Friday
י"ט אדר ב’ התשפ"ד

חיפוש בארכיון

183. Lowliness / ירידה

It is good for a man to make himself lowly rather than position himself above others. This concept applies to where one literally seats himself when together with other people. We do not mean by this that one should sit at the lowest (i.e., farthest) place, but that one should know his place, as he sees it, but then sit somewhat lower than that place. On the other hand, one should always find a seat for himself near people who are of greater stature so that he can learn from them. Our Sages thus said: “Be a tail to lions rather then the head of foxes.” They said further, “Sit by the dust of the feet of sages and drink their words thirstily.”

It is proper to make himself lowly whenever he can thereby bring honor to his Creator, such as to be willing to learn from all people, to show respect to the poor, to gladden the hearts of the downtrodden, to be a seeker of peace who loves people and draws them near to the Torah, and to be the one who greets every one with Shalom.

“My brothers and my nation, take this sefer Torah, and with this, and like this learn well, so that you should have it good; listen and enliven your soul, and achieve gladness and joy in this world and the world to come” (From the author’s intro.)