Hayom Yom 23 Elul - The Torah consists entirely of exemplary character traits

ר' מֹשֶׁה, בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵןThe Alter Rebbe’s son, R. Moshe, בְּלָמְדוֹ — וְהוּא אָז כְּבֶן ח'-י"א שָׁנָהwho was between eight and eleven years old at the time, was studying הַסּוּגְיָא בְּשִׁבְחָן שֶׁל חֲכָמִים בְּגִטִּין (ס"ז א)the passage in Tractate Gittin (p. 67a) that praises our Sages, נִסְתַּפֵּק בְּמַאֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי שָׁםand was uncertain about the meaning of R. Shimon bar Yochai’s statement: שְׁנוּ מִדּוֹתַי“Study midosai.” שֶׁיֵשׁ בָּזֶה שְׁנֵי פֵּרוּשִׁיםThere are two interpretations of this: לִמְדוּ תוֹרָתִי (רַשִׁ"י)“Learn my teachings” (as Rashi comments), אוֹ מִדּוֹתַי כִּפְשׁוּטוֹor “Learn my character traits,” according to the simple meaning of the term middos.בְּתוֹךְ כַּךְ נִכְנַס רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵןAs he was deliberating, the Alter Rebbe entered the room וְאָמַר — בְּנִגּוּן, כְּדַרְכּוֹ בַּקֹּדֶשׁand said the following words melodically, as was his holy practice: תּוֹרָה שֶׁנִּתְּנָה לָנוּ כּוּלָּהּ מִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת“The Torah that was given to us consists entirely of exemplary character traits. אֲפִלּוּ הָעוֹנָשִׁין שֶׁבָּהּ הֵם בֶּאֱמֶת חֶסֶד וָטוֹבEven its punishments are really kindness and goodness. וּשְׁנֵי הַפֵּרוּשִׁים אֶחָד הֵםThus the two interpretations are in fact one וְהָא בְּהָא תַּלְיָאand interdependent. אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִהְיוֹת מִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת בְּלִי תּוֹרָהIt is impossible to have exemplary character traits without Torah knowledge וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַתּוֹרָה בְּלִי מִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹתand it is impossible to have Torah knowledge without exemplary character traits.”כְּכָל הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל קָרָה גַּם לְהַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק בִּהְיוֹתוֹ בְּגִיל ח'-י"א שָׁנָהThe Tzemach Tzedek had an identical experience when he was the same age.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]