Torah.org Home Subscribe Services Support Us
 
Print Version

Email this article to a friend
Rambam

Rambam

Rabbi Yitzchok Etshalom
Talmud Torah 5:10

10. Every student whose attitudes are finely honed does not speak in front of anyone who is wiser than he, even if he never learned anything from him.

Q1: Is this a new category - "the student whose attitudes are finely honed"? If so, how is it defined?

YE: R does use this type of term in a few places (De'ot 2:7, Nedarim 13:23) and he seems to be indicating the ideal of the *metron ariston* (Golden Mean). It is generally defined by R (first three chapters of De'ot) as the exact middle between extremes in behavior and emotions. This is a huge oversimplification and that section of De'ot is highly recommended reading.

Q2: Is R saying that such students will not behave this way, and that it is symptomatic of "a finely honed character" - or that this is one of the criteria for being considered a student of such character?

YE: In De'ot 2:5, R develops the theme of "limited and quality speech" as a criterion for the ideal character; our Halakha may be an extension of that principle.

Rambam, Copyright (c) 1999 Project Genesis, Inc.

Please Support TORAH.ORG
Print Version       Email this article to a friend

 

ARTICLES ON BEHAALOSCHA:

View Complete List

Our Awesome Power
Rabbi Pinchas Avruch - 5764

The Missing "So"
Shlomo Katz - 5759

Don't Sue the Travel Agent
Rabbi Yisroel Ciner - 5757

ArtScroll

Learn to Thrive
Rabbi Dovid Green - 5762

Let
Rabbi Naftali Reich - 5773

The Menorah - A Lesson in Parenting
Rabbi Berel Wein - 5768

> A Mitzvah Gained is Eternity Gained
Rabbi Yisroel Ciner - 5758

The Ear That Hears
Rabbi Label Lam - 5767

Payback Time Comes Years Later
Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 5761

Looking for a Chavrusah?

On The Heaven And The Earth
Rabbi Yochanan Zweig - 5772

Spiritual Healing
Shlomo Katz - 5767

What Makes You Sad? What Makes You Happy?
Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 5773

Frumster - Orthodox Jewish Dating

Appreciate the Present
Rabbi Berel Wein - 5767

Fishful Thinking
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky - 5762

Never Lose that Sense of Wonder
Rabbi Label Lam - 5763

The Paradigm of Strength
Rabbi Label Lam - 5770



Project Genesis

Torah.org Home


Torah Portion

Jewish Law

Ethics

Texts

Learn the Basics

Seasons

Features

TORAHAUDIO

Ask The Rabbi

Knowledge Base




Help

About Us

Contact Us



Free Book on Geulah!




Torah.org Home
Torah.org HomeCapalon.com Copyright Information