Insights and Inspiration When the group learns a such text that offers guidance, do not go through the material as though you are reading some narrative. Instead, learn it calmly and in depth, and apply the words to yourselves: how to implement their guidance and make it a permanent part of yourselves. Then various topics will reveal themselves to you.
In general, if a group member has an insight—whether it occurred to him at a meeting, at home, on the street, or so forthChe should tell it to the others. They in turn should listen attentively. Even if nine times out of ten there is nothing substantial to what he has to say, the tenth time it may be something worthwhile. As the Zohar states, at times one can find a pearl even in a pauper’s knapsack.
In general, every good thought about serving God that manifests itself in a Jew’s mind and heart is a species of an echo of the voice of his spirit: the echo of an outcry lamenting its downfall, or a sound of joy when it is ascending.
כְּשֶׁיִּלְמְדוּ יַחַד אֵיזֶה עִנְיָן מֵעִנְיְנֵי הַדְרָכָה, לֹא יַעַבְרוּ עָלָיו כְּעַל אֵיזֶה סִפּוּר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה רַק יִלְמְדוּ בְּנַחַת וּבְעִיּוּן, וְיַתְאִימוּ אוֹתוֹ הָעִנְיָן עַל עַצְמָם, אֵיךְ יְקַיְּמוּ הֵם אֶת דִּבְרֵי הַדְרָכָה שֶׁל סֵפֶר זֶה וְאֵיךְ יִקְבְּעוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר בְּקִרְבָּם, וְאָז יִתְגַּלֶּה לִפְנֵיהֶם עִנְיָנִים שׁוֹנִים בַּסֵּפֶר.
Insights and Inspiration
When the group learns a such text that offers guidance, do not go through the material as though you are reading some narrative. Instead, learn it calmly and in depth, and apply the words to yourselves: how to implement their guidance and make it a permanent part of yourselves. Then various topics will reveal themselves to you.
וּבִכְלָל כָּל מִי מֵהַחַבְרַיָּא שֶׁיִּפֹּל בְּמוֹחוֹ אֵיזֶה רַעְיוֹן טוֹב, בֵּין אִם יִפּוֹל לוֹ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּמְצָא יַחַד עִם הַחֲבֵרִים בֵּין כְּשֶׁהוּא בְּבֵיתוֹ בִּרְחוֹב וכו', יֹאמְרו לִפְנֵי חֲבֵרָיו וְהַחֲבֵרִים יִשְׁמְעוּ לוֹ, כִּי אֲפִלּוּ אִם ט' פְּעָמִים לֹא יִהְיֶה מַמָּשׁ בִּדְבָרָיו, יָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת בְּפַעַם הָעֲשִׂירִי דָּבָר טוֹב בּוֹ, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאִיתָא בזוהר הקדוש, לִפְעָמִים גַּם בְּיַלְקוּטוֹ שֶׁל הֶעָנִי יְכוֹלִים לִמְצוֹא מַרְגָּלִית.
In general, if a group member has an insight—whether it occurred to him at a meeting, at home, on the street, or so forthChe should tell it to the others. They in turn should listen attentively. Even if nine times out of ten there is nothing substantial to what he has to say, the tenth time it may be something worthwhile. As the Zohar states, at times one can find a pearl even in a pauper’s knapsack.
וּבִכְלָל, כָּל מַחֲשָׁבָה טוֹבָה בְּעִנְיַן עֲבוֹדָה שֶׁמִּתְחַדֶּשֶׁת בְּמוֹחַ וְלֵב הֲיִשְׂרָאֵל, מִין הֵד שֶׁל קוֹל נַפְשׁוֹ הִיא, אִם הֵד שֶׁל קוֹל צְעָקָה עַל נְפִילָתָהּ, אוֹ שֶׁל קוֹל שִׂמְחָה בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹלָה הִיא.
In general, every good thought about serving God that manifests itself in a Jew’s mind and heart is a species of an echo of the voice of his spirit: the echo of an outcry lamenting its downfall, or a sound of joy when it is ascending.
אֲבָל לֹא יַחְפְּצוּ הַחֲבֵרִים הַמַּשְׁמִיעִים אֶת רַעֲיוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם רַק לְבַלּוֹת זְמַן, כְּדֵי לְהוֹסִיף דִּבּוּרִים וּלְהַרְאוֹת חָכְמָתָם בִּלְבַד.
And the group member who is expressing his ideas should not merely wish be interested in speaking at length and displaying his wisdom.