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Fire It Up!

The Pasuk says וכל חכם לב בכם יבאו;[1] all those of wise heart shall come… It is said from the Be’er Mayim Chaim that any smart person will bring his heart- to act with passion and enthusiasm. This is unlike לבו רחק ממני; distanced its heart from me.[2] We can’t do things by rote as in מצות אנשים מלמדה- davening another Tefila and the like.[3] As someone once put it, “When it comes to that which is spiritual, it is all about putting spirit into your ritual!” In this way, the Kotzker Rebbe interprets לא תעשון כן לה' אלה-יכם-[4] don’t perform acts כן; by doing it out of habit or to just fulfill your obligation. There is a quote that reads, “The really dangerous thing about existence is that it is not a question of sink or swim but that it is possible to float.”    

R’ Shlomke Zvhiller was extremely happy each morning when he put on Tefillin. He once remarked that the joy of a great Rasha when he commits a sin can't compare to the joy he receives when he puts on Tefillin.[5]

The Gemara tells us of the praiseworthy deed of R’ Adda Bar Ahava who never slept in the house of study- לא ישנתי בבית המדרש.[6] This can also be understood as his Torah (בית המדרש) was learned with enthusiasm, not in a sleepy way (לא ישנתי).[7]

After relating the disagreement where R’ Yishmael says that one should work and learn whereas R’ Shimon Bar Yochai says to only learn, the Gemara states הרבה עשו כר' שמעון בן יוחי ולא עלתה בידן; many did like R’ Shimon Bar Yochai and were not successful.[8] It is said from the Baal Shem Tov that it didn’t work because הרבה עשו כר' שמעון- they merely copied R’ Shimon Bar Yochai[9] and didn’t do it from their own passion.[10] A wise man remarked, “Man must guard himself and his uniqueness, and not imitate his fellow... for initially man was created in his own image, and only afterwards in the image of God.”[11] “Your time on this world is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

When the Beis Midrash of the Sefas Emes burned down, he inquired what the source of the fire was. When he was told it was ignited by a cigarette in the attic, he commented that if such a small fire can lead to much damage, imagine what a small fire of Torah and Mitzvos can cause.

R’ Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander Ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. R’ Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.