I recently started studying the book of Proverbs. It is the second book in the section of the Bible called the Holy Scriptures (Lashon HaKodesh - כִּתבֵי הַקוֹדֶשׁ, כתובים). Part of my personal learning program is to regularly learn the Tanakh. Because this is my third time through it, I skip material I have covered many times, for example the book of Psalms.
Proverbs (Hebrew - Mishle, מִשְׁלֵי) is an exploration of the concept of wisdom and its application to religion and morality. It holds a unique place in religious literature with many studying it with intensity, especially great scholars. The magnum opus of the Vilna Gaon was his commentary on Mishlei. While a student at Yeshiva Or Somayach, I attended a class in it held every motsie Shabbos by Rabbi Aharon Feldman, who was the Rosh Yeshiva there at the time. At times he would lecture on a single verse. It took him fourteen years to complete the entire book and at the conclusion he held a festive siyum, which I was honored to attend. A prolific author, his books on keeping peace at home “The River, the Kettle,and the Bird”; and an esoteric analysis of the Rabbi bar bar Hannah stories, “The Juggler and the King”, were particularly popular. He’s appeared on the prestigious American news show Nightline, where his handsome, well groomed appearance, long grey rabbanic beard, frock coat, and calm articulate manner favorably project the image of a Haredi yeshiva. Presently he is Rosh Yeshiva of Nir Yisrael in Baltimore. Many call his name as the Gadol HaDor (giant of the generation), myself included. I am proud to have personal relationship with him and share his enthusiasm for the book of Proverbs.
The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, who is reputed to be the wisest man that ever lived. It would seem that his great intelligence was not a product of natural talents, rather it was a gift from Hashem that was later given to him. The first book of Kings recounts that HaKadosh Baruch Hu was pleased with Shlomo because he followed the path of his father David, who kept the faith in truth, righteousness, and honesty. Therefore God told Shlomo to request a gift. King Solomon asked for a heart that listens so that he could discern between good and evil especially when judging his people. The request found favor in the eyes of God and He gave him a wise and knowing heart that was greater than anything before or anything that would be. The book that begins to capture this is the book of Proverbs.
In the first paragraph of Proverbs Shlomo expresses his goals. The approach is aphorisms that capture wisdom and its application to religion. They are to teach the reader to know wisdom, criticism, and to understand intellectual proofs. Wisdom is basically book learning and experience. Knowledge is the ability to match an intellectual concept with its occurrence in the physical world. Criticism is the ability to accept correction from others, and it should be accepted when it is correct, fair, and straight. Understanding is an intellectual grasp of relationships. He continues that he wishes to make the innocent clever and to give plans and strategies to the young. The idea is to have practical approaches which include being quiet about things that cause trouble. The wise should know how to listen and learn a lesson and the understanding should acquire new techniques. One should understand analogies, metaphors, and recognize hints from the wise.
Shlomo concludes the opening paragraph with a proverb, “Fear of Hashem is the beginning of knowledge, but wisdom and critique the fool scorns”. The idea is that staying out of trouble motivates a person to learn. A fool, however, thinks that if he is ignorant that heaven will not hold him accountable.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
