We continue with our exploration into the Talmudic Tractates of Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah. For those new to the class, Baruch ha Ba! Welcome! You can access last week's class, our first, at
So. together we continue:
TALMUD BAVLI TRACTATE DEREK
ERETZ ZUTA.
CHAPTER I.
1. The qualities of the sages are: Modesty, meekness, eagerness, courage, bearing wrongs done to them, and being endeared to every one; submission to the members of their household, fear of sin, and judging every one according to his deeds.
In our last class, we discussed Modesty and Humility, and I received from you (thank you ) some very interesting takes on humility, including many from folks sharing their experiences about learning this middah , trait. And the learning process is never ending.
Today, let us explore the second middah in the above verse: meekness. At first blush, meekness is used pejoratively in literature. Based on this common usage it would be a trait I would not want to have. ''Exist unthinkingly like a slave, like a working animal'' —Iris Murdoch. ''Like an ox, his head bent meekly, he waited for the blow of the axe which was raised over him'' —Leo Tolstoy. ''Like a victim: meek, like a sacrifice'' —Margaret Drabble.
So what is Derek Eretz trying to teach us? Certainly the rabbis do not want us to be unthinking, obsequious , slave-like, farm animals, ready to be sacrificed or to be a victim. True meekness seems very much lost in our aggressive, self-centered culture. Because people associate it with weakness, most today do not admire others for being "meek," but as we shall see, it is not what they assume. It is a quality of character very noticeable in our greatest sages, z'l, and one that all of us sorely need today.
Some have tried to use "humility" as its equivalent, but Hebrew has specific words that are synonyms for humility. Besides, humility does not fully catch its meaning. Another word associated with meekness is "gentleness," but the same is as true for gentleness as humility. Both are part of meekness, but it is not really either. Its characteristics and use are much more involved than either of them.
Humility, meekness and other middot (traits) and how we can attain them are discussed in detail in (001) The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal - Rabbi Arthur Segal . The middot that Moshe Rabbanu and other people mentioned in the TaNaK, the Hebrew scriptures, are located in(002) A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud - Rabbi Arthur Segal .
The Hebrew word translated "meekness" is anav meaning "depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly): humble, lowly, meek, poor" The translation depends upon the context in which it appears. Talmudically , meekness comprised the middot, the traits, of egolessness , being loving, being full of chesed, (kindness), being forgiving, and gentleness. It is the opposite of having a flamboyant charismatic personality. The best of our sages could not attract a TV audience with tele-evangelism.
Meekness is understanding that spark of the Divine, the yetzer tov, being allowed to work in us. True love of God and our fellows softens our stiff-necked rebellion and our hearts so that we are made receptive to the workings of the Creator to produce His image in us. Therefore meekness, along with the qualities already mentioned, also includes our becoming pliable, malleable, submissive and teachable.
Meekness enables a person to bear patiently life's insults and injuries he receives at the hand of others. It makes him ready to accept instruction from anyone, as the Talmud teaches, ''a wise person is one who can learn from anyone.'' It allows him to endure provocation without being inflamed by it. The story of R' Hillel in the Talmud, being taunted with silly questions by students who placed a bet to see if they could get Hillel to loose his temper, is an example of meekness on the part of Hillel.
He remains cool when others become heated. Meek people seek no private revenge; they leave that to God's sense of justice while they seek to remain true in their calling and meet God's standards.
The spirit of meekness enables its possessor to squeeze great enjoyment from his earthly portion, be it small or great. Delivered from a greedy and grasping disposition, he is satisfied with what he has. As the Talmud teaches: ''Who is rich? He who is content with what he has.'' Serenity of mind, shlema, shalom is one of the fruits of meekness.
This much misunderstood virtue is the antidote for most of the nervous anxiety that is greatly intensifying the normal day-to-day stresses of life especially during this uncertain economic times. God commands us in Zephaniah 2:3: ''Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek meekness.'' Psalm 22:26 : ''The meek shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! '' Psalm 147:6 : "The Lord lifts up the meek; He casts the wicked down to the ground" Isaiah 29:19 :'' The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."
And of course, the oft quoted Psalm 37:11 is: '' But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. ''
As Talmud Bavli Tractate Bava Kama 99b teaches: we are to be "ma'abir 'al middotaw," that is, of a forgiving, yielding ,disposition of meekness.
We can see why now, understanding the true definition of meekness, why it is a trait taught in Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta, that we can develop in ourselves.
Next week, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta, 1:1.
For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Noah (Noach) from (002) A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud - Rabbi Arthur Segal , please click on: Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:NOACH:NOAH:JEWISH RENEWAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:NOACHIDE or http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:HcNIeXYHrHkJ:rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/10/rabbi-arthur-segalnoachnoahjewish.html+noah+%22rabbi+arthur+segal%22&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us.
For an Eco-Judaism d'var on Noach, (Noah), please see Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:ECO- JUDAISM:EARTH or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2009/08/rabbi-arthur-segaljewish-spiritual_20.html
Shabbat Shalom !
Special thanks to R'Ritenbaugh for his teachings to me about meekness.
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