A Soulful Journey

Four entered the Garden, Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher and Rabbi Akiva.  Rabbi Akiva said to them, “When you arrive at the place of stones of pure marble do not say “Water, water!” Because it is said, he who speaks falsehood will not stand before My eyes (Psalms 101:7).  Ben Azzai looked upon the sixth Palace and saw the ethereal splendor of the marble plates with which the Palace was tessellated and his body could not bear it.  Whereupon he died. Scripture says about him, “Blessed in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his righteous" (Psalms 116:15).  Ben Zoma beheld the splendor and was afflicted. Scripture says about him, "If you have found honey, all your fill because if you become surfeited you will vomit" (Proverbs 25:16).  Acher cut his shoots. Rabbi Akiva departed in peace  - Hagiga 14b and Lesser Hehlaot Mysticism has always had a very narrow and defined place in Judaism. It is meant for the devout, t...

Ben Zoma asked, “Who is wise?” “One who learns from all people. As it is said, “From all my teachers I have received understanding.” – Pirkay Avot 4 Find growth everywhere.  Everyone is a potential teacher.

Ben Zoma said: How hard the first man, Adam, must have labored before he could eat a piece of bread. He had to plow and sow and weed and hoe and reap and thresh, winnow and sift, grind, sift again, knead, moisten and bake. Only after all of this did he eat his bread.  I get in the morning and find the bread ready for me. What toil Adam had to do until he could be clothed with the simplest raiment. He had to shear, bleach, beat the wool, dye it, spin it, weave it, wash it, and sew it together, and only after all this was he clothed; whereas I get up and find all my clothes prepared for me.  How many workmen get up early and go late to rest! Whereas I get up in the morning and find all the things I need before me. - Talmud That is why we pray each morning for the gifts of clothes, limbs, eyes, relief and so much more.  These are the Morning Blessings, Birkot HaShachar .

B en Zoma (Berakhot 58a) compared his life and that of Adam, the first man on earth: kama yigos yiga adam harishon ad sh’motzo pat lechem I’echol, “ How much trouble, how much labor poor Adam had to indulge in until he had a piece of bread to eat.  He had to plough, plant, sow and reap and grind, knead and bake,” v’achar kach ochal , “ and only then did he have a piece of bread to eat.”  V’ani ashkim u’motze kol davar muchan , “ And I arise in the morning and find all prepared for me!”   And consider what Adam had to do in order to have a garment to wear.  He had to shear sheep and spin and weave.  Only then did he have a garment to wear, v’ani ashkim umotze kol davar muchan .  – Rabbi Israel Levinthal

"Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from all men, as it is written (Psalm 119:99) "I have gained understanding from all my teachers."  –Avot 1:4