Chapter six introduces and defines the second level, zerizus.
Zerizus can be translated as "zeal" or "alacrity" (Ofek, Feldheim). However, see "Lights Along the Way" (Artscroll) where R. Twersky refuses to translate the word, claiming there is no fair English equivalent. Regardless of how you translate zerizus, chapter six is basically a manifesto against its antithesis: i.e., laziness.
Man is naturally lazy, Luzzatto tells us, and one who wishes to achieve zerizus must strive to overcome their very nature. Otherwise, man is guaranteed to end up bereft of mitzvos.
Simple enough. But Luzzatto is not satisfied. He quotes Mishlei (24:30-34) in which Shlomo HaMelech contemplates an overgrown vineyard with a broken fence and learns this lesson: "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to lie down, then your poverty shall come as a runner..." Ramchal then quotes a Midrash which interprets these verses as an analogy. Someone who fails to invest sufficient time and energy into learning will, as a result, fail to understand Torah and then misinterpret it, ultimately leading to violations of the law.
Question: Why is Ramchal talking about learning? His topic here is how laziness works against zerizus. Learning will obviously be damaged by laziness, just like every other mitzvah - why is it singled out?
I think it is clear that Luzzatto is not just giving us learning as an example, but is rather making an additional, important point about zerizus. Laziness has a negative impact on Mitzvah performance in two very different ways.
1) Because of laziness, a person will fail to fulfill his obligations.
2) Because of laziness, a person will not learn enough, and then, due to their lack of training, they will misinterpret Torah - and do Mitzvos wrong!
Although well-intentioned and, if they ever realize their error, these people will assume it was "just a mistake," they are not as innocent as they think. It all comes back to a failure in zerizus.
"Someone who fails to invest sufficient time and energy into learning, will, as a result, fail to understand Torah and then misinterpret it, ultimately leading to violations of the law."
ReplyDeleteI found this extremely interesting. Luzzatto seems to be talking here to people who are already extremely learned and says that if they don't keep up their learning, they will eventually come to make incorrect piskei halacha. There really is no rest in this world!
I think something you see here, is that these levels all build on each other. If someone manages to become "Naki", they can't say "Great, now I can rest" because that will bring them back down the ladder.
Maybe the definition of a correct interpretation of Torah is the best the person is capable of sans laziness.
ReplyDeleteThe Cancer of our world is found in precisely the discussion of laziness. You write "Although well-intentioned and, if they ever realize their error, these people will assume it was "just a mistake," they are not as innocent as they think. It all comes back to a failure in zerizus." Justifying mistakes, looking for excuses and being over zealous in our own self defense is precisely the problems that our generation faces.
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