Jewish Calendar Thursday, February 16, 2023 25 Shevat, 5783
Jewish Calendar Thursday, February 16, 2023 25 Shevat, 5783
Passing of Rabbi Israel Lipkin (1810-1883), known as "Rabbi Israel Salanter," founder of the "Mussar" (ethicist) movement.
At Sinai, we declared, “We will do and we will understand!”
Angels descended from heaven and placed two crowns upon our heads.
One crown for “We will do.” The other for “We will understand.”
But that’s puzzling.
We were wise to accept the Torah even before we understood, to preface “we will do” to “we will understand.” Because we knew well the One who was giving us this Torah.
That gives us one crown. And the other?
The other is the crown for the understanding that comes after doing.
Because when your understanding comes before your actions, and your knowledge has nothing to do with how you live, then you know nothing.
But when you begin with a resolve to carry out whatever you learn, then your understanding soars to an entirely new level.
For that, you deserve a crown, for you have transcended yourself.
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