Alei Shur – Mussar Shiur #3 – Yeshivat Maharat

In this paragraph Rav Wolbe introduces an important concept to which he returns a number of times through out his work – the importance of individuality.  Every human being must understand their own place in the world – that the world was created for me.  He works off the very important Mishna in Sanhedrin 4:5 (link).

I have heard Rabbi Yitz Greenberg teach this Mishna on a number of occasions. He outlines three fundamental values that emerge from this passage: 1) The infinite value of every human being, 2) the complete equality of every human being, 3) the unique nature of every human being.  This grows from the core notion that every human being was created b’tzelem elohim, in the divine image.  Rav Wolbe uses this Mishna to bring out the importance of human individuality.

Alei Shur – v2 shaar 3 chapter 12 – hodesh harachamin (3)

Alei Shur – Mussar Shiur #2 – Yeshivat Maharat

Rav Wolbe moves us forward in the building of the theme is individuality.  He quotes the famous gemara where the term kivnei maron is defined.  (You can see the gemara with its attendant commentaries at this link.)  All three definitions describe a process of judgement whereby the human being passes before hashem by him or herself.  This can be a terrifying notion.  However, Rav Wolbe uses this sense of being alone as a model for finding our own path and simply being stam adam – any person.

You can listen to the audio below:

Alei Shur – v2 shaar 3 chapter 12 – hodesh harachamim (2)

Alei Shur – Mussar Shiur #1 – Yeshivat Mahrat

This is the first mussar schmooze of the year at Yeshivat Maharat.  This year we are learning the monumental work Alei Shur by Rav Shlomo Wolbe.  We will be focusing on the second volume in which Rav Wolbe does his serious personality development in the va’adim.

We started with a piece about the month of Elul (v.2 sha’ar 3, ch. 12 – hodesh harachamim).  Here Rav Wolbe talks about the opportunities of personal renewal that are given to us at this time of year, the time of the creation of the world.  Just as human beings are renewed, so is the kingdom of heaven renewed through that same process.  Rav Wolbe adds a third piece of the puzzle for this time of the year which is teshuva.

By referring to the liturgy of Rosh haShana as the day of the creation of the world, Rav Wolbe is reminding us of an important debate surrounding the question of the creation of mankind.  The beautiful midrash describing the first hours of the creation of the world is attached below (Pesikta dRavv Kehana and Vayikra Rabba).  In this midrash man sins within one hour of being created.  Just one hour later he is excused with a full pardon.  As the Ran explains, we daven on Rosh haShana to receive a similarly favorable judgement.

You can see the extra material that I gave out at this link.

In addition, you can hear the audio of the shiur at the link below:

Alei Shur – v2 shaar 3 chapter 12 – hodesh harachamim