Mattos-Massei 5785 - Mentch First, Tzaddik Second

What if everything you thought you knew about being a tzaddik was backwards? In this week's episode on Parshas Mattos, we explore a revolutionary insight from Rav Yisroel Meir Druck that challenges our assumptions about righteousness. When the Torah describes the soldiers chosen for battle as "anashim" - meaning wise, understanding people - Rashi reveals they were tzaddikim. But here's the twist: before someone can become a true tzaddik, they must first master something far more basic yet infinitely more challenging - being a mentch. Join us as we discover why character development isn't just a nice addition to spiritual practice, but the essential foundation that makes all other religious growth possible. You might be surprised to learn that the path to holiness doesn't begin in the beit midrash, but in how we treat our spouse, conduct our business, and show up for our commitments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notarabbi.substack.com