Knowledge is Power -
G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power.
“Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the
disciples of our father Abraham; and whoever possesses the opposite three
traits is of the disciples of the wicked Bilaam.
The disciples of our father Abraham have a good eye, a meek
spirit and a humble soul. The disciples of the wicked Bilaam have an evil eye,
a haughty spirit and a gross soul.
What is the difference between the disciples of our father
Abraham and the disciples of the wicked Bilaam? The disciples of our father
Abraham benefit in this world and inherit the World To Come, and as is stated,
"To bequeath to those who love Me, and their treasures I shall fill"
(Proverbs 8:21).
The disciples of the wicked Balaam inherit purgatory and
descent into the pit of destruction, as is stated, "And You, G‑d,
shall cast them into the pit of destruction; bloody and deceitful men, they
shall not attain half their days. And I shall trust in you" (ibid.,
55:24).” (Ethics of our Fathers Chapter 5 Mishna 19)
Now, that was a mouthful.
Why did the Rabbis, teaching the above, not tell us more
succinctly, “become the students of Abraham our Patriarch, who had a good eye,
meek spirit and humble soul” like they encouraged us regarding Aaron, “become
the disciples of Aaron--a lover of peace, a pursuer of peace, one who loves the
creatures and draws them close to Torah”?
What’s up with this comparison against the students of the
wicked Bilaam, and why the detailing of the punishments and rewards? Also, why
do we end the above teaching, with words King David used to express his OWN
inner strength, nothing to do with the evil traits of the students of Bilaam?
The above urging of our sages regarding Abraham, is not at
all like the guidance regarding the students of Aaron spoken about in another
place in the Ethics of our Fathers. There, everything is action oriented. Love
peace and pursue peace, in this world. Love people and draw them into the
proper path, into the ways of Torah.
In our case above, since the Rabbis are counseling and
appealing not to the realm of action but exclusively to character, they felt it
necessary to amplify and expand their teachings because, people have a tendency
to believe, the only thing that matters is what I do, and not what’s going on
inside of me. The motivation behind the action, and who I am inside, really
plays no role, in this world of action.
For this reason, the Rabbis took the time to explain, that
developing the qualities and character-traits of Abraham our Patriarch, in
itself, even before it is brought into any kind of action is already considered
a positive accomplishment and achievement.
Our Rabbis want us to know, and for that reason they
emphasize, the reward expected for those who develop these positive character
traits, and the punishment for those with the negative traits, not only in the
world to come, but in this world, right now and right here. For this reason,
they included the verse “bloody and deceitful men, they shall not attain half
their days.” To save us from these tragedies.
Since the evil traits in themselves bring terrible results
and have a power to cause harm we conclude with the prayer and strength of King
David “And I shall trust in you”. This prayer is the antidote to all the
negativity generated by those with the negative traits.
Everything comes from G-d, and in the end no one ever has
anything to fear from another human being. A persons trust in G-d in itself, is
the power to withstand and counteract the bad traits of evil people. As King David tells us in Psalms, “but as for
him who trusts in the Lord - kindness will encompass him.”
Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak Schneerson once said, “this is the
entire contribution offered through the study of Chassidus - to eliminate any
and all character traits that are no good, to refine and transform and elevate
to the upper levels of holiness, so there can be (will be) the revelation of
the great and infinite merciful G-d in this world, which is how blessings are
drawn into this world. Because, G-d in his essence is (all) blessings and
compassion and is completely and totally goodness itself.”
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