Zeal for the Torah and the commandments is a great quality, and so is zeal that aims to make a better world. And it is a quality of the righteous in the service of the Creator, may He be Blessed. Our Sages, of blessed memory, said : "The zealous are early to perform their religious duties" (Pesahim 4a).
Concerning Abraham, our father, in the account of the sacrifice of Isaac, it is said : "And Abraham rose in the morning" (Gen. 22:3). Even though it was difficult for him to offer up his only son, he nevertheless did the will of the Creator with zeal, arising early in the morning. He who performs his deeds with zeal demonstrates convincingly that he loves his Creator as a servant who loves his master and hastens to do His will. For zeal depends upon the heart of a man, as when a man cleanses his heart of all other thoughts that may be in it and clings to one thought only, then he makes himself alert and will no doubt succeed. Thus did Abraham do when he removed the love for his son from his heart and carried out the will of his Creator, nullifying his love for his son before his love for the Creator. Therefore, he made a point of rising early, for there was in his heart a great love for the Creator. Therefore, the Holy One, Blessed be He, swore to him that He would remember the binding of Isaac. For a man may do a very difficult thing for one he loves, although his heart troubles him in the doing. But Abraham and Isaac both acted out of the desire of their heart, for the degree of love that they felt for God was very great. Both of them cleaved unto the Lord in their thoughts until they were joined in a great unity. For their sole intent was to spread throughout the world the knowledge of the Unity of the Creator and to train mankind to love Him. As they lovingly performed the service of the Lord, may He be Exalted, and fulfilled His commandments, their physical nature was overcome; their minds cleaved to their love of the Creator of the world. Therefore, both of them acted with zeal.
You should know that zeal is the very beginning of all ethics. For no man can be perpetually bent over his book. He must eat, sleep and perform his bodily functions. Therefore, it requires eagerness and care to return to one's book and to study. One should not muse "the day is still long and the year is still long." Concerning this our Sages, of blessed memory, said : "Do not say, 'when I have some free time, I will study' — perhaps you will never be free" (Aboth 2:4). Nor should a man say, : "It is already evening — if I start studying now, I will have to stop in a little while to pray," for it is better to spend one hour in study even if only to learn one saying, than to do any other thing in the world. Concerning this it is said, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (Prov. 28:9). And thus it is written : "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver" (Ps. 119:72). And thus it is also written, "For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand" (Ps. 84:11), on which the Talmud comments : The Holy One, Blessed be He, said, "I prize one day of your studying Torah more than the thousand sacrifices which your son Solomon will offer upon the altar" (Shabbath 30a).
Rabbi Phineas, the son of Yair, said, "Zeal leads to cleanliness, cleanliness leads to continence, continence leads to purity. Purity leads to holiness, holiness leads to humility, humility leads to the fear of sin, the fear of sin leads to piety, piety leads to possession of the Holy Spirit, possession of the Holy Spirit leads to resurrection, resurrection leads to Elijah the Prophet, remembered for good" (T.P. Shekalim 3:5; see Sota 49a and Abodah Zarah 20b). Come and see how great is the power of zeal, which leads to such splendid qualities! Therefore, let a man be careful and alert to perform all the commandments and to run to study, early and late.
Now, you ought to remember the things that men tend to be lazy about. If you must look up something in a book, and you do not know where to find it, you must be quick to go and to ask someone who is familiar with the subject. If a poor man comes to your house to ask for bread, do not say, "I cannot go and get the bread," but go quickly and bring it. If you are about to wash your hands (before eating) and all you have is a little water or loathsome water, or if the vessel for the washing of the hands does not quite meet the ritual specifications (e.g., there is a crack in it) and you are hungry and want to eat, let not your hunger make you look lightly upon the washing of the hands, but be quick to bring water and a proper vessel. One must be very alert when it comes to taking care of his bodily needs. He should not delay even for a moment, so as not to transgress "And ye shall not make your souls detestable" (Lev. 20:25 — see also Makkot 16b). Then, too, the one who delays performing his bodily needs brings upon himself great illnesses.
A man should be very alert and careful to guard himself in the matter of cleanliness so that his garments are clean and his body clean. He should also wash the anus after he has attended to his bodily needs, for it is impossible to wipe oneself properly without water. He must also be alert to his bodily needs at night. If he wishes to drink water, he should arise, wash his hands, go to a clean place and should make the blessing for the water before and after drinking. If he is in his bed and hears the sound of thunder or sees lightning, he should get up, wash his hands, and then make the blessing. He must also be able to rise from his bed and cause all slumber to vanish from his eyelids in order to rise early and to study the Torah. He needs zeal to remove himself from his unworthy deeds, such as envy and hatred and lustful thoughts. All these require great alertness, so that he may incline all of his thoughts to the will of the Creator, blessed be He. If he is distressed on account of the loss of his money, or the death of a loved one, or because of afflictions, he must be very alert to deepen in his thoughts his love for the Rock of Ages, to erase the distress from his heart and to make his heart pure so as to justify the ways of God in His judgments and in His laws and to receive with love God's will and to cleave to the Torah, to prayer and to good deeds, and to strengthen himself in his firm intent to serve God the Most High.
The general rule in this matter is that a man should examine himself and ask himself which sin he does customarily, and he should hasten to set up fences in order to take care to cease committing that particular transgression. He should also examine himself as to which commandment of God he is lax in. For example, an idler should understand right off that this idleness is a result of his being concerned with idle things. He who attaches himself to idle things will obviously reject Torah and prayer and all that is good. Such a man should depart from people who waste time in idle talk, and he should not be their companion; this will be a cure for his illness. Thus should he act with respect to all bad qualities. He should understand from the start what is at the root of his unworthy conduct and destroy it, thus removing the darkness which darkness the light of his soul. And for all these zeal is required, for if he is too lazy to root out these evil qualities, then they will become fixed in his heart so firmly that he will be unable to uproot them. He should be alert to seek peace and to pursue it. As it is said : "Seek peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:15).
He should be zealous to seek knowledge of the Torah and knowledge of the Creator, as it is written. "And let us know, eagerly strive to know the Lord" (Hos. 6:3). Thus said the Sages: "Betake thyself to a place of Torah" (Aboth 4:14). And a man should be alert to seek justice, as it is written : "Justice, justice shall you pursue" (Deut. 16:20). And it is written, "Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, Ye that seek the Lord" (Is. 51:1). It is necessary to be quick in copying out the books which one needs for one's study. When he sees or hears a new thing, he should be alert to write it down and not delay until it is forgotten from his heart.
Rabbi Judah, the son of Tema, said, "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fast as a deer, mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven" (Aboth 5:24). See how they warned that one make himself light and strong in order to fulfill the commandments! Thus did David say, "I made haste, and delayed not, to observe Thy commandments" (Ps. 119:60). Thus did our Rabbis expound : " 'And ye shall observe the matzot (Ex. 12:17), do not read it as matzot (unleavened bread), but read it is as mitzvot (commandments)" — meaning if an opportunity comes to you to do a good deed, do not let it grow stale but do it at once (Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, vol. I., p. 74). It is very necessary to be agile and alert and strong in order to strive against the wicked — to be mighty of heart as Moses, our teacher, when he said, "Put every man his sword upon his thigh" (Ex. 32:27). And to be like Phinehas of whom it is said, "And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear into hand" (Num. 25:7). Therefore, take care to be quick to separate yourself from the company of the wicked, so that you will not be part of their designs and their plans. Above all it requires zeal to do repentence. One must hurry and he should not delay to follow the paths of repentence, and let him not be wicked for even one hour before God, may He be Blessed. See how alert the servants and ministers of kings are in the performance of their duties. All the more so must we be careful to be alert in our service to the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.
Even though zeal is a very good quality, one must be careful not to work too quickly. For one who rides quickly is liable to stumble, and one who runs quickly may fall. It is not wise to attempt to repair anything in haste, but rather with deliberation. And thus said our teachers, "Be deliberate in judgment!" (Aboth 1:1). And zeal means that one's heart must be stirred, and one's thoughts aroused and that one's limbs must be light for one's work, but one ought not to be hasty in any matter. All of these matters require great wisdom as to when to hurry and when to tarry. Even though the quality of zeal is very good nevertheless a man ought not be zealous to pursue his lusts, to busy himself in seeking pleasures, or to pursue evil deeds. For just as zeal in the matter of Torah raises a man to a very lofty height, so does alertness in the matter of transgressing bring a man down to the nether world.
Just as a man must be quick in the matter of the Torah, so should he be quick in the matters of this world and be alert in his work. Great success is in store for him who does his work with alertness. Therefore, son of man, be alert in what concerns both worlds, and be quick in your work which is needed for this world, in order that you will soon be free to do the work of Heaven.
שַׁעַר הַחֲמִשָּׁה־עָשָׂר – שַׁעַר הַזְּרִיזוּת
Chapter Fifteen: ON ZEAL
הַזְּרִיזוּת הִיא מִדָּה גְּדוֹלָה לַתּוֹרָה וְלַמִּצְווֹת, וְגַם לְעִנְיַן תַּקָּנַת הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. וְהִיא מִדַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים לַעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ. וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (פסחים ד א): זְרִיזִין מַקְדִּימִים לְמִצְווֹת.
Zeal for the Torah and the commandments is a great quality, and so is zeal that aims to make a better world. And it is a quality of the righteous in the service of the Creator, may He be Blessed. Our Sages, of blessed memory, said : "The zealous are early to perform their religious duties" (Pesahim 4a).
וְהִנֵּה תִּרְאֶה בְּאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ בְּעִנְיַן עֲקֵדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כב ג): ״וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר...״; וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה קָשֶׁה לוֹ לִשְׁחֹט אֶת בְּנוֹ יְחִידוֹ – עָשָׂה רְצוֹן הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְעַלֶּה בִּזְרִיזוּת לְהַשְׁכִּים בַּבֹּקֶר. וּמִי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשָׂיו בִּזְרִיזוּת, בָּזֶה הוֹכָחָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁהוּא אוֹהֵב אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ, כְּעֶבֶד הָאוֹהֵב אֶת אֲדוֹנָיו וּמְזָרֵז בְּעַצְמוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנוֹ. כִּי הַזְּרִיזוּת תְּלוּיָה בְּלֵב הָאָדָם, כְּשֶׁאָדָם מְפַנֶּה לִבּוֹ מִכָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת הָאֲחֵרוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ, וְתוֹפֵס מַחֲשָׁבָה אַחַת – אָז הוּא מִזְדָּרֵז בְּלִי סָפֵק. כְּמוֹ כֵן עָשָׂה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁהֵסִיר מִלִּבּוֹ אַהֲבַת בְּנוֹ וְאָחַז רְצוֹן בּוֹרְאוֹ, וּבִטֵּל אַהֲבַת בְּנוֹ מִפְּנֵי אַהֲבַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ. וְעַל כֵּן נִזְדָּרֵז לְהַשְׁכִּים, כִּי הָיְתָה דַּעְתּוֹ קְשׁוּרָה בְּאַהֲבַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּחֵשֶׁק גָּדוֹל; עַל כֵּן נִשְׁבָּע לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִזְכֹּר הָעֲקֵדָה. כִּי יֵשׁ בֶּן אָדָם הָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבוּר אוֹהֲבוֹ דָּבָר קָשֶׁה לוֹ מְאוֹד, וְלִבּוֹ נוֹקְפוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת. אֲבָל אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק שְׁנֵיהֶם עָשׂוּ מֵחֵפֶץ לִבָּם, כִּי מַדְרֵגַת הָאַהֲבָה הָיְתָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאוֹד בְּלִבָּם; וּשְׁנֵיהֶם נִתְדַּבְּקוּ עִם הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בִּידִיעָתָם, עַד שֶׁנִּתְיַחֲדוּ בְּיִחוּד גָּדוֹל. כִּי כָּל כַּוָּנָתָם הָיְתָה לְפַרְסֵם יִחוּד הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ בָּעוֹלָם, וּלְיַשֵּׁר בְּנֵי אָדָם לְאַהֲבָתוֹ. וּבְעֵת שֶׁעָשׂוּ בְּאַהֲבָה עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְעַלֶּה וּמִצְווֹתָיו – נִתְבַּטֵּל כֹּחַ גּוּפָם, וְנִתְדַּבְּקָה דַּעְתָּם בְּאַהֲבַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ יוֹצֵר עוֹלָם. לָכֵן עָשׂוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בִּזְרִיזוּת.
Concerning Abraham, our father, in the account of the sacrifice of Isaac, it is said : "And Abraham rose in the morning" (Gen. 22:3). Even though it was difficult for him to offer up his only son, he nevertheless did the will of the Creator with zeal, arising early in the morning. He who performs his deeds with zeal demonstrates convincingly that he loves his Creator as a servant who loves his master and hastens to do His will. For zeal depends upon the heart of a man, as when a man cleanses his heart of all other thoughts that may be in it and clings to one thought only, then he makes himself alert and will no doubt succeed. Thus did Abraham do when he removed the love for his son from his heart and carried out the will of his Creator, nullifying his love for his son before his love for the Creator. Therefore, he made a point of rising early, for there was in his heart a great love for the Creator. Therefore, the Holy One, Blessed be He, swore to him that He would remember the binding of Isaac. For a man may do a very difficult thing for one he loves, although his heart troubles him in the doing. But Abraham and Isaac both acted out of the desire of their heart, for the degree of love that they felt for God was very great. Both of them cleaved unto the Lord in their thoughts until they were joined in a great unity. For their sole intent was to spread throughout the world the knowledge of the Unity of the Creator and to train mankind to love Him. As they lovingly performed the service of the Lord, may He be Exalted, and fulfilled His commandments, their physical nature was overcome; their minds cleaved to their love of the Creator of the world. Therefore, both of them acted with zeal.
וְאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת, כִּי מִדַּת הַזְּרִיזוּת הִיא תְּחִלָּה לְכָל הַמִּדּוֹת. כִּי אֵין הָאָדָם יָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת תָּדִיר עַל הַסֵּפֶר, כִּי צָרִיךְ לֶאֱכֹל וְלִישֹׁן וְלַעֲשׂוֹת צְרָכָיו. לָכֵן צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת וּזְהִירוּת, לַחֲזֹר לְסִפְרוֹ וְלִלְמֹד. וְאַל יַחְשֹׁב: עוֹד הַיּוֹם גָּדוֹל וְהַשָּׁנָה גְּדוֹלָה! כִּי עַל זֶה אָמְרוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (אבות ב ד): אַל תֹּאמַר ״לִכְשֶׁאִפָּנֶה אֶשְׁנֶה״, שֶׁמָּא לֹא תִּפָּנֶה. גַּם אַל יֹאמַר אָדָם: ״עֵת עֶרֶב הוּא כְּבָר, אִם אֵלֵךְ לִלְמֹד אֶצְטָרֵךְ לַעֲמֹד מִיָּד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל.״ כִּי טוֹבָה שָׁעָה אַחַת לִלְמֹד, וַאֲפִלּוּ דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, מִכָּל דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (משלי כח ט): ״מֵסִיר אָזְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹעַ תּוֹרָה, גַּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ תּוֹעֵבָה״. וְכֵן כָּתוּב (תהלים קיט עב): ״טוֹב לִי תוֹרַת פִּיךָ, מֵאַלְפֵי זָהָב וָכָסֶף״. וְכֵן נֶאֱמַר (שם פד יא): ״כִּי טוֹב יוֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶיךָ מֵאָלֶף״ – אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: טוֹב לִי יוֹם אֶחָד שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, מֵאֶלֶף עוֹלוֹת שֶׁעָתִיד שְׁלֹמֹה בִּנְךָ לְהַקְרִיב לְפָנַי עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (שבת ל א).
You should know that zeal is the very beginning of all ethics. For no man can be perpetually bent over his book. He must eat, sleep and perform his bodily functions. Therefore, it requires eagerness and care to return to one's book and to study. One should not muse "the day is still long and the year is still long." Concerning this our Sages, of blessed memory, said : "Do not say, 'when I have some free time, I will study' — perhaps you will never be free" (Aboth 2:4). Nor should a man say, : "It is already evening — if I start studying now, I will have to stop in a little while to pray," for it is better to spend one hour in study even if only to learn one saying, than to do any other thing in the world. Concerning this it is said, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (Prov. 28:9). And thus it is written : "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver" (Ps. 119:72). And thus it is also written, "For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand" (Ps. 84:11), on which the Talmud comments : The Holy One, Blessed be He, said, "I prize one day of your studying Torah more than the thousand sacrifices which your son Solomon will offer upon the altar" (Shabbath 30a).
אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר: זְהִירוּת מְבִיאָה לִידֵי זְרִיזוּת, וּזְרִיזוּת מְבִיאָה לִידֵי נְקִיּוּת, וּנְקִיּוּת מְבִיאָה לִידֵי טָהֳרָה, וְטָהֳרָה מְבִיאָה לִידֵי פְּרִישׁוּת, וּפְרִישׁוּת מְבִיאָה לִידֵי קְדֻשָּׁה, וּקְדֻשָּׁה מְבִיאָה לִידֵי עֲנָוָה, וַעֲנָוָה מְבִיאָה לִידֵי יִרְאַת חֵטְא, וְיִרְאַת חֵטְא מְבִיאָה לִידֵי חֲסִידוּת, וַחֲסִידוּת מְבִיאָה לִידֵי רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְבִיאָה לִידֵי תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים. וּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים מְבִיאָה לִידֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא זָכוּר לַטּוֹב (ירושלמי שקלים ג ג). בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה גָּדוֹל כֹּחַ הַזְּרִיזוּת, שֶׁמְּבִיאָה לִידֵי דְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ! לָכֵן יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר וְזָרִיז לְכָל הַמִּצְווֹת, וְלָרוּץ אֶל הַסֵּפֶר לִלְמֹד, לְהַשְׁכִּים וּלְהַעֲרִיב.
Rabbi Phineas, the son of Yair, said, "Zeal leads to cleanliness, cleanliness leads to continence, continence leads to purity. Purity leads to holiness, holiness leads to humility, humility leads to the fear of sin, the fear of sin leads to piety, piety leads to possession of the Holy Spirit, possession of the Holy Spirit leads to resurrection, resurrection leads to Elijah the Prophet, remembered for good" (T.P. Shekalim 3:5; see Sota 49a and Abodah Zarah 20b). Come and see how great is the power of zeal, which leads to such splendid qualities! Therefore, let a man be careful and alert to perform all the commandments and to run to study, early and late.
מִדַּת הַזְּרִיזוּת הִיא תַּכְשִׁיט לְכָל הַמִּצְווֹת, וְהִיא מְתַקֶּנֶת כֻּלָּם. וְעַתָּה יֵשׁ לְךָ לְהָבִין בַּדְּבָרִים הַנּוֹהֲגִים תָּמִיד בְּנֵי אָדָם לְהִתְעַצֵּל בָּהֶם.
The quality of zeal is an ornament to all other qualities, and it corrects all other qualities.
כְּגוֹן אִם צָרִיךְ אַתָּה לִרְאוֹת שׁוּם דָּבָר בְּסֵפֶר, הִשְׁתַּדֵּל לְחַפֵּשׂ הָעִנְיָן שֶׁתַּחְפֹּץ, וְתִהְיֶה זָרִיז לֵילֵךְ וְלִשְׁאוֹל מִמִּי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ הַדָּבָר. אִם יָבוֹא עָנִי לְבֵיתְךָ לְבַקֵּשׁ לֶחֶם, אַל תֹּאמַר: ״לֹא אוּכַל לֵילֵךְ וּלְהָבִיא הַלֶּחֶם״, אַךְ תֵּלֵךְ בִּזְרִיזוּת לְהָבִיא. אִם תָּבוֹא לִטֹּל יָדְךָ, וְיֵשׁ לְךָ מַיִם מוּעָטִים אוֹ מְאוּסִים, אוֹ אִם הַכְּלִי אֵינוֹ כָּשֵׁר כָּל כָּךְ כְּגוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סֶדֶק, וְאַתָּה רָעֵב לֶאֱכֹל – אַל תְּבִיאֲךָ תַּאֲוָתְךָ לְהָקֵל בַּנְּטִילָה, אֶלָּא הִזְדָּרֵז לְהָבִיא מַיִם וּכְלִי הָרָאוּי לִנְטִילָה. וְצָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁלֹּא יַשְׁהֶה נְקָבָיו גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים אֲפִלּוּ רֶגַע אֶחָד, שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲבֹר עַל (ויקרא כ כה) ״לֹא תְשַׁקְּצוּ״ (מכות טז ב). גַּם הַמַּשְׁהֶה נְקָבָיו – מֵבִיא עָלָיו חֳלָאִים גְּדוֹלִים (בכורות מד ב).
Now, you ought to remember the things that men tend to be lazy about. If you must look up something in a book, and you do not know where to find it, you must be quick to go and to ask someone who is familiar with the subject. If a poor man comes to your house to ask for bread, do not say, "I cannot go and get the bread," but go quickly and bring it. If you are about to wash your hands (before eating) and all you have is a little water or loathsome water, or if the vessel for the washing of the hands does not quite meet the ritual specifications (e.g., there is a crack in it) and you are hungry and want to eat, let not your hunger make you look lightly upon the washing of the hands, but be quick to bring water and a proper vessel. One must be very alert when it comes to taking care of his bodily needs. He should not delay even for a moment, so as not to transgress "And ye shall not make your souls detestable" (Lev. 20:25 — see also Makkot 16b). Then, too, the one who delays performing his bodily needs brings upon himself great illnesses.
וְצָרִיךְ זְהִירוּת וּזְרִיזוּת לִשְׁמוֹר עַצְמוֹ בִּנְקִיּוּת, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בְּגָדָיו נְקִיִּים וְגוּפוֹ נָקִי, לִרְחֹץ פִּי הַטַּבַּעַת אַחַר שֶׁעָשָׂה צְרָכָיו, דְּאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְקַנֵּחַ יָפֶה בְּלִי מַיִם. גַּם צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לָעוֹשֶׂה צְרָכָיו בַּלַּיְלָה לְיַד מִטָּתוֹ, וְיָקוּם וְיִטֹּל יָדָיו, וְיֵלֵךְ בְּמָקוֹם נָקִי לְבָרֵךְ ״אֲשֶׁר יָצַר״. אִם רוֹצֶה לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם – יָקוּם וְיִטֹּל יָדָיו, וְיֵלֵךְ לְמָקוֹם נָקִי, וִיבָרֵךְ עַל הַמַּיִם תְּחִלָּה וָסוֹף. אִם הוּא עַל מִטָּתוֹ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹל רַעַם אוֹ רוֹאֶה בְּרָקִים, שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד וְיִטֹּל יָדָיו וִיבָרֵךְ. גַּם צָרִיךְ לָקוּם מִמִּטָּתוֹ, וּלְהַעֲבִיר תְּנוּמָה מֵעַפְעַפָּיו, וּלְהַשְׁכִּים לִלְמֹד תּוֹרָה. וְצָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לִפְרֹשׁ מִמַּחְשְׁבוֹתָיו הַגְּרוּעוֹת, כְּגוֹן הַקִּנְאָה, וְהַשִּׂנְאָה, וְהִרְהוּרֵי נָשִׁים, דְּכָל אֵלֶּה צְרִיכִים זְרִיזוּת גְּדוֹלָה בְּיוֹתֵר מְאוֹד, לְהַטּוֹת כָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת אַחַר רְצוֹן הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ. אִם יָבוֹא לוֹ שׁוּם צַעַר מֵאִבּוּד מָמוֹנוֹ, אוֹ בְּמִיתַת אוֹהֲבוֹ, אוֹ יִסּוּרִין – צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת מְאוֹד לְהַגְבִּיר בְּמַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו לְאַהֲבַת צוּר עוֹלָמִים, לְבַטֵּל הַצַּעַר מִלִּבּוֹ. וְיִהְיֶה לִבּוֹ זַךְ לְהַצְדִּיק הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּדִינָיו וּבְמִשְׁפָּטָיו לְקַבְּלָם מֵאַהֲבָה, וּלְהִתְדַּבֵּק בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַתְּפִלָּה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, וּלְהִתְחַזֵּק בְּכָל כַּוָּנָתוֹ לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן.
A man should be very alert and careful to guard himself in the matter of cleanliness so that his garments are clean and his body clean. He should also wash the anus after he has attended to his bodily needs, for it is impossible to wipe oneself properly without water. He must also be alert to his bodily needs at night. If he wishes to drink water, he should arise, wash his hands, go to a clean place and should make the blessing for the water before and after drinking. If he is in his bed and hears the sound of thunder or sees lightning, he should get up, wash his hands, and then make the blessing. He must also be able to rise from his bed and cause all slumber to vanish from his eyelids in order to rise early and to study the Torah. He needs zeal to remove himself from his unworthy deeds, such as envy and hatred and lustful thoughts. All these require great alertness, so that he may incline all of his thoughts to the will of the Creator, blessed be He. If he is distressed on account of the loss of his money, or the death of a loved one, or because of afflictions, he must be very alert to deepen in his thoughts his love for the Rock of Ages, to erase the distress from his heart and to make his heart pure so as to justify the ways of God in His judgments and in His laws and to receive with love God's will and to cleave to the Torah, to prayer and to good deeds, and to strengthen himself in his firm intent to serve God the Most High.
כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר: יִבְדֹּק אָדָם עַצְמוֹ אֵיזוֹ עֲבֵרָה הוּא רָגִיל בָּהּ, וִימַהֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת גְּדֵרִים לְהִזָּהֵר וּלְהִשָּׁמֵר מִפָּנֶיהָ. גַּם יִבְדֹּק עַצְמוֹ בְּאֵיזֶה מִצְוָה הוּא מִתְרַפֶּה, וְיָבִין תְּחִלָּה מָה גּוֹרֵם לוֹ שֶׁהוּא רָפוּי מִמֶּנּוּ. כְּגוֹן אָדָם בַּטְלָן – יָבִין תְּחִלָּה שֶׁהַבִּטּוּל בָּאָה מִדְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים, וּמִי שֶׁקּוֹבֵעַ עַצְמוֹ לִדְבָרִים בְּטֵלִים – הוּא מִתְבַּטֵּל מִתּוֹרָה וּמִתְּפִלָּה וּמִכָּל טוֹבָה. וִיהֵא זָרִיז לְהִסְתַּלֵּק מִן הַמְדַבְּרִים דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים, וְלֹא יִתְחַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם – בָּזֶה יֵשׁ לוֹ רְפוּאָה לְמַחֲלָתוֹ. וְכֵן יַעֲשֶׂה לְכָל הַמִּדּוֹת הַגְּרוּעוֹת: יָבִין מִתְּחִלָּה עַל הַיְּסוֹד הַגָּרוּעַ, וְיַהֲרֹס אוֹתוֹ, וְיָסִיר מֵעֵינָיו הַחֹשֶׁךְ הַמַּחְשִׁיךְ אוֹר נַפְשׁוֹ. וּלְכָל זֶה צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לְסַלְּקָם, כִּי אִם יִתְעַצֵּל לַעֲקֹר וּלְשָׁרֵשׁ אוֹתָן הַמִּדּוֹת – אָז יַעֲשׂוּ בְּלִבּוֹ שֹׁרֶשׁ עָנָף שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְקַצְּצָם. וְיִהְיֶה זָרִיז לְבַקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְלִרְדֹּף אַחֲרָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים לד טו): ״בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ״.
The general rule in this matter is that a man should examine himself and ask himself which sin he does customarily, and he should hasten to set up fences in order to take care to cease committing that particular transgression. He should also examine himself as to which commandment of God he is lax in. For example, an idler should understand right off that this idleness is a result of his being concerned with idle things. He who attaches himself to idle things will obviously reject Torah and prayer and all that is good. Such a man should depart from people who waste time in idle talk, and he should not be their companion; this will be a cure for his illness. Thus should he act with respect to all bad qualities. He should understand from the start what is at the root of his unworthy conduct and destroy it, thus removing the darkness which darkness the light of his soul. And for all these zeal is required, for if he is too lazy to root out these evil qualities, then they will become fixed in his heart so firmly that he will be unable to uproot them. He should be alert to seek peace and to pursue it. As it is said : "Seek peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:15).
וְיִהְיֶה זָרִיז לְבַקֵּשׁ יְדִיעַת הַתּוֹרָה וִידִיעַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ, דִּכְתִיב (הושע ו ג): ״נִרְדְּפָה לָדַעַת אֶת יְיָ״. וְכֵן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים (אבות ד יג): הֱוֵי גֹּלֶה לִמְקוֹם תּוֹרָה. וְיִהְיֶה זָרִיז לְבַקֵּשׁ צְדָקָה, דִּכְתִיב (דברים טז כ): ״צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף״; וּכְתִיב (ישעיהו נא א): ״שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי רֹדְפֵי צֶדֶק מְבַקְשֵׁי יְיָ״. וְצָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לִכְתֹּב סְפָרִים אֲשֶׁר הוּא צָרִיךְ לִלְמֹד מֵהֶם. אוֹ כְּשֶׁיִּרְאֶה אוֹ כְּשֶׁיִּשְׁמַע שׁוּם דָּבָר חִדּוּשׁ – יִהְיֶה זָרִיז לְכָתְבוֹ, וְלֹא יַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁיִּשָּׁכַח מִלִּבּוֹ.
He should be zealous to seek knowledge of the Torah and knowledge of the Creator, as it is written. "And let us know, eagerly strive to know the Lord" (Hos. 6:3). Thus said the Sages: "Betake thyself to a place of Torah" (Aboth 4:14). And a man should be alert to seek justice, as it is written : "Justice, justice shall you pursue" (Deut. 16:20). And it is written, "Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, Ye that seek the Lord" (Is. 51:1). It is necessary to be quick in copying out the books which one needs for one's study. When he sees or hears a new thing, he should be alert to write it down and not delay until it is forgotten from his heart.
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן תֵּימָא: הֱוֵי עַז כַּנָּמֵר וְקַל כַּנֶּשֶׁר, רָץ כַּצְּבִי וְגִבּוֹר כָּאֲרִי, לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן אָבִיךָ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם (אבות ה כ). רְאֵה אֵיךְ הִזְהִירוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת עַצְמוֹ קַל וְגִבּוֹר עַל הַמִּצְווֹת! וְכֵן אָמַר דָּוִד (תהלים קיט ס): ״חַשְׁתִּי וְלֹא הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי לִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתֶיךָ״. וְכֵן דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: ״וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת הַמַּצּוֹת״ (שמות יב יז) – אַל תִּקְרֵי ״מַצּוֹת״ אֶלָּא ״מִצְווֹת״: אִם תָּבוֹא מִצְוָה לְיָדְךָ אַל תַּחְמִיצֶנָּה, אֶלָּא עֲשֵׂה אוֹתָהּ מִיָּד. וְצָרִיךְ מְאוֹד קַלּוּת וּזְרִיזוּת וּגְבוּרָה לְהִלָּחֵם נֶגֶד הָרְשָׁעִים, לִהְיוֹת אַבִּיר לֵב כְּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁאָמַר (שמות לב כז): ״שִׂימוּ אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ עַל יְרֵכוֹ״. וּבְפִינְחָס נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ (במדבר כה ז): ״וַיַּרְא פִּינְחָס... וַיִּקַּח רֹמַח בְּיָדוֹ״. לָכֵן הִזָּהֵר בְּעַצְמְךָ לִהְיוֹת זָרִיז מְאוֹד לְהִפָּרֵד מֵחֶבְרַת רְשָׁעִים, שֶׁלֹּא לִהְיוֹת בַּעֲצָתָם וּבְהַסְכָּמָתָם. וְעַל הַכֹּל צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה: יָחִישׁ וְלֹא יְאַחֵר בְּדַרְכֵי תְשׁוּבָה, וְלֹא יְהֵא שָׁעָה אַחַת רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם יִתְבָּרַךְ. רְאֵה אֵיךְ מְשָׁרְתֵי הַמְּלָכִים וְהַשָּׂרִים זְרִיזִים הֵם בִּשְׁלִיחוּתָם וּבַעֲבוֹדָתָם – כָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִזָּהֵר וּלְהִזְדָּרֵז לַעֲשׂוֹת עֲבוֹדַת מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
Rabbi Judah, the son of Tema, said, "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fast as a deer, mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven" (Aboth 5:24). See how they warned that one make himself light and strong in order to fulfill the commandments! Thus did David say, "I made haste, and delayed not, to observe Thy commandments" (Ps. 119:60). Thus did our Rabbis expound : " 'And ye shall observe the matzot (Ex. 12:17), do not read it as matzot (unleavened bread), but read it is as mitzvot (commandments)" — meaning if an opportunity comes to you to do a good deed, do not let it grow stale but do it at once (Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, vol. I., p. 74). It is very necessary to be agile and alert and strong in order to strive against the wicked — to be mighty of heart as Moses, our teacher, when he said, "Put every man his sword upon his thigh" (Ex. 32:27). And to be like Phinehas of whom it is said, "And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear into hand" (Num. 25:7). Therefore, take care to be quick to separate yourself from the company of the wicked, so that you will not be part of their designs and their plans. Above all it requires zeal to do repentence. One must hurry and he should not delay to follow the paths of repentence, and let him not be wicked for even one hour before God, may He be Blessed. See how alert the servants and ministers of kings are in the performance of their duties. All the more so must we be careful to be alert in our service to the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַזְּרִיזוּת טוֹבָה מְאוֹד, יִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא יְמַהֵר בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ יוֹתֵר מִדַּי. כִּי הָרוֹכֵב בִּמְהִירוּת – הוּא קָרוֹב מְאוֹד לְהִכָּשֵׁל. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁהוּא רָץ בִּמְהִירוּת – הוּא נוֹפֵל. וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְתַקֵּן מַעֲשֶׂה מְתֻקָּן בְּבֶהָלָה, אֲבָל בְּמִתּוּן יְתֻקְּנוּ הָעִנְיָנִים. וְכֵן אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (אבות א א): ״הֱווּ מְתוּנִים בַּדִּין״. וְהַזְּרִיזוּת: שֶׁיְּהֵא נֵעוֹר לִבּוֹ, וְיָקִיץ מַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו, וְיָקֵלּוּ אֵיבָרָיו לִמְלַאכְתּוֹ; אַךְ לֹא יְמַהֵר בְּשׁוּם עִנְיָן. וְכָל אֵלּוּ הָעִנְיָנִים צְרִיכִים חָכְמָה גְּדוֹלָה, מָתַי יְמַהֵר וּמָתַי יְאַחֵר. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמִּדַּת הַזְּרִיזוּת טוֹבָה מְאוֹד, מִיהוּ לֹא יְהֵא זָרִיז לִרְדֹּף אַחַר תַּאֲווֹתָיו, וְלִטְרֹחַ אַחַר הֲנָאוֹתָיו, וְלִרְדֹּף אַחַר מַעֲשָׂיו הָרָעִים. כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר הַזְּרִיזוּת לְעִנְיַן הַתּוֹרָה מְבִיאָה אֶת הָאָדָם לְמַעֲלָה עֶלְיוֹנָה – כָּךְ הַזְּרִיזוּת לְעִנְיַן הָעֲבֵרוֹת מְבִיאָה הָאָדָם לִשְׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּית.
Even though zeal is a very good quality, one must be careful not to work too quickly. For one who rides quickly is liable to stumble, and one who runs quickly may fall. It is not wise to attempt to repair anything in haste, but rather with deliberation. And thus said our teachers, "Be deliberate in judgment!" (Aboth 1:1). And zeal means that one's heart must be stirred, and one's thoughts aroused and that one's limbs must be light for one's work, but one ought not to be hasty in any matter. All of these matters require great wisdom as to when to hurry and when to tarry. Even though the quality of zeal is very good nevertheless a man ought not be zealous to pursue his lusts, to busy himself in seeking pleasures, or to pursue evil deeds. For just as zeal in the matter of Torah raises a man to a very lofty height, so does alertness in the matter of transgressing bring a man down to the nether world.
וְכַאֲשֶׁר צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לַתּוֹרָה – כָּךְ צָרִיךְ זְרִיזוּת לְעִנְיַן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה: שֶׁיְּהֵא זָרִיז בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ. וְיֵשׁ הַצְלָחָה גְּדוֹלָה לְמִי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה עִנְיָנָיו בִּזְרִיזוּת. לָכֵן בֶּן אָדָם, תִּהְיֶה זָרִיז לִשְׁנֵי עוֹלָמִים, וַעֲשֵׂה מְלַאכְתְּךָ, שֶׁהוּא צָרְכֵי הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה – בִּזְרִיזוּת, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּפָּנֶה מְהֵרָה לִמְלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם.
Just as a man must be quick in the matter of the Torah, so should he be quick in the matters of this world and be alert in his work. Great success is in store for him who does his work with alertness. Therefore, son of man, be alert in what concerns both worlds, and be quick in your work which is needed for this world, in order that you will soon be free to do the work of Heaven.