May 22, 2019 · 00:04:14
I hope you’re all doing well today. Welcome to another episode of NachDaily, Mishlei Perek 23. In this perek Shlomo warns us in a strict manner as if he's speaking directly to us about our behavior, and gives us divrei mussar. The perek opens by relating that we should not be obsessive about food and dieting, constantly being consumed by it. If we sit to eat with a “ruler,” aka the yetzer hara, we should try our best not to crave more than we really need. Shlomo Hamelech goes on to talk about the futility of wealth, which can be gone in the blink of an eye. The Gra and the Malbim note how much time is wasted by chasing after parnassah, neglecting Torah learning which connects us to the Source of life itself. I would add here that it is certainly a mitzva to earn a living. Unfortunately, we often get completely taken over by our professions and use our careers to define ourselves. Getting pulled away by this illusion makes it difficult for us to return to our true selves and actually do the things we value when we have a bit more time. Shlomo Hamelech urges us to strive to attain morality and seek words of truth. As it says in verse 12, “Havia lamussar libecha v’az’necha l’imrei da’as - Apply your heart to moral instruction, your ears to words of knowledge.” The Rabbeinu Yona points out that it is our obligation to work on both our minds and hearts, purifying them with wisdom and sincerity. The Alshich Hakadosh explains that Chazal tell us that the hearts of Tzaddikim are in t