Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Working is a Curse

 Michtav M’Eliyahu (01 page 187) The whole need to strive in material matters according to the course of nature, comes from the Adam's sin, which was said in his curse By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread., It was because in his sin he descended to such a physical level. Before the sin when he was in a higher spiritual level, all the needs of his refined body came to him automatically. Our Sages said angels roasted meat and poured wine for him.

Michtav M’Eliyahu (01 page 187)  The whole burden of working is nothing but a punishment and a curse, and the Torah did not give a measure for it.It is not good for a person to reduce the curse as much as possible. What is the minimum effort that man is required to do? Rabbi Zundel of Selchem said, we need to engage in work only because we are not worthy of open miracles, Therefore the obligation is to act in such a way that the beneficial influence that comes down to us from Heaven can be attributed to some natural cause and that is the minimum required. Even buying a lottery ticket can be acceptable effort(hishstadlus)

1 comment:

  1. Nonsense like this is why I gave away my set of Michtav M'Eliyahu.
    The Gemara is full of statements praising work. Certainly the shnorrers showing up at my door seem to think work is a good thing for me. In fact, they rely on it.
    And buying a lottery ticket is hishtadlus? Please. That's the exact example of cheap faith in God.

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