While there is much talk today about the importance of self esteem and its effect on a person's attitudes and accomplishments, there is a corollary benefit of understanding the greatness of man -- If I am obligated to respect myself because I was created in the image of HASHEM, then so too, I must respect you, because you also were created in that same image. In fact, Ben Azzai teaches us that if a person wants to improve his interpersonal relationships, a concept that will help him even more than Loving one's neighbor as oneself, is this understanding that All men are created in the image of HASHEM.
This Shmuz focuses us on the Torah's view of the true dignity of man, and the profound effect that this concept has on our lives.
CLICK HERE TO STREAM, DOWNLOAD, PODCAST or WATCH TO SHMUZ #126
This Shmuz focuses us on the Torah's view of the true dignity of man, and the profound effect that this concept has on our lives.
CLICK HERE TO STREAM, DOWNLOAD, PODCAST or WATCH TO SHMUZ #126
Mussar Exercise paraphrased from this shmuz. My apologies for any errors or inaccuracies.
ReplyDelete1) Imagine that you are trapped in the Himalayas. You went mountain climbing and you got lost. Search and rescue teams were sent out, but they couldn’t locate you. Additional rescue teams were called in, but you still couldn’t be found. Finally, after about two days they realize that they will not be able to find you. However, there is hope. If an entire regimen of people, complete with a garrison of helicopters and a huge amount of effort is deployed, it is quite likely that you will be saved. However, there are a lot of expenses involved. Congress convenes a subcommittee to determine how much money they should spend.
a) Imagine that they ask you. How much money would be appropriate for us to spend to save your life? What is the largest dollar amount that you feel the government should allocate toward saving you?
b) Suppose Bill Gates had accompanied you on your trip to the Himalayas. What is an appropriate amount to spend on Bill Gates' life?
2) Imagine the following scenario. Every day you daven in shul next to a little old man. You’re a nice guy so you help him out. You give him a lift. You help him with his Teffilin. Eventually, you become good friends. You help him shop, invite him for Shabbos etc. This goes on for several years. One day he tells to you that he has no connection to his family, but feels really close to you and he’s leaving you his entire inheritance. You appreciate the gesture, but don’t think much of it. How much could it be worth any way? Eventually, the man dies. And you mournfully go to his. A week later a letter arrives and after meeting with his lawyer you find out that you are the sole inheritor of his entire estate of $10 billion dollars. You experience a incredible high. You are now fabulously wealthy. However, after a short amount of time, the elation wears off and you are filled with a sense of grave responsibility. You have the ability to change the world. You could build orphanages, hospitals, save huge segments of Klal Yisroel , or do a multitude of other meaningful projects. Life has handed you a very serious job.
Any dollar value degrades the true value of human life. However, you had to choose a number to answer the first question. That number is the minimal value of your life. We do have the grave reasonability of taking care of a $10 billion dollar life and need to carefully examine what we are doing with it. Additionally, every other person we meet has that same value. Whenever we see another person, we must realize that we are dealing with a $10 billion dollar person and we must treat him with honor and regard that is appropriate for such a significant entity.
a) $100,000 -
ReplyDeleteb) $10,000,000,000: he could reimburse them
c) WOW! TEN BILLION DOLLARS! YIKES!
Great Shmuz!
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ReplyDeleteAccording to a 2003 study the average healhty middle aged (Australian?) peson was willing to pay $2.5 million (Australian?) to avoid instant death.
ReplyDeleteThe study is referenced here.
is it just me, but are a lot of Rabbi Schaifer Shmuzes a bit on the negative side?? Do we need some more positive ones for extra "oomph"??
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I am an addicted Shmuz-caster!
Please respond Y'all!
I don't understand.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by negative? Most shmuzin are positive. You have the ability to become great, here's a way how.
Do you want him to say, you're such a perfect person, go take it easy?
This shmooze seems to be contradictory to the concept that a Talmud Chachum can revoke the honor due to him for the Torah he has learnt, because it is considered HIS Torah. So to should Yaakov been able to revoke the honor due to him. Any thoughts on this?
ReplyDelete