Cultivating Your Inner Mensch Week 6 Enthusiasm / Zerizut

(57) The LORD is my portion; I have resolved to keep Your words. (58) I have implored You with all my heart; have mercy on me, in accordance with Your promise. (59) I have considered my ways, and have turned back to Your decrees. (60) I have hurried and not delayed to keep Your commandments. (61) Though the bonds of the wicked are coiled round me, I have not neglected Your teaching. (62) I arise at midnight to praise You for Your just rules.

(4) Not only does the lazy man fail to attain knowledge of the Torah, since he does not occupy himself with the Torah as he should, but due to his laziness, false notions enter his heart. For the lazy person rationalizes his laziness : "It is good for the body to rest so that it will grow stronger, and when a man is strong he can do more than a weak person."

A lazy person also listens to vain things, but he excuses himself by maintaining that he has an open mind. Laziness, then, causes a man to seek reasons for saying that when he avoids study, he is really doing a positive good.

Now even though it is true that we must rest in order to grow strong and that listening to wit helps to clear the mind, this applies specifically to the man who is zealous and occupies himself with the Torah. The strength of man is not like the strength of stones and his bones are not like brass, so that he can be busy constantly; one must rest from time to time in order to replenish one's strength. But the lazy man applies this theory to himself and embraces it so wholeheartedly that he does nothing at all. In every instance where exertion is called for, he rationalizes his laziness.

(5) The lazy man is faint-hearted and does not make his way to a center of Torah. Of him, King Solomon said seven things. What does the lazy man say? People say to a lazy man, "There is a teacher in the metropolis — go and learn Torah from him," and he answers, "I am afraid of the lion that is in the path." As it is said. "The sluggard saith : 'There is a lion in the way' " (Prov. 26:13). They say to him, "There is a teacher in the township — get up and go to him" and he answers, "I am afraid lest there be a lion in the streets." As it is said, "Yea, a lion is in the streets" (ibid). Then they say to him, "But the teacher lives right near your house." And he answers, "The lion is somewhere outside." As it is said, "The sluggard saith : 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.' " Then they say to him, "The teacher is right in your house," and he answers, "But if I go and find the door locked, I will only have to come back." They say to him, "The door is open." As it is said, "The door is turning upon its hinges and the sluggard is still upon his bed" (Prov. 26:14). Finally, when he does not know what to answer, he says to them, "Whether the door is open or locked, I want to sleep a bit more." As it is said, "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt though arise out of thy sleep?" (Prov. 6:9). When he rises from his sleep, they place before him food to eat, but he is too lazy even to lift it to his mouth. As it is said, "The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring back to his mouth" (Prov. 26:15).

(6) And what is the seventh trait? As it is said, "The sluggard will not plow, when winter setteth in" (Prov. 20:4). Rabbi Simon, the son of Yohai said, "This refers to one who did not study Torah in his youth and wants to study when he is old — he will be unable to do so. That is what is meant by, "He shall beg in harvest, and have nothing" (ibid.).