And Israel took all these cities; and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Cheshbon, and in all its villages. For Cheshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, to Arnon. Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, Come to Cheshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared. (Bemidbar 21:25-27)

This cheshbon, or accounting, can only be done by those already in control of their natures. The Mesillas Yesharim writes (Chap. 3) that those still confined by the chains of their evil inclination cannot recognize the truth. He explains this with his famous moshol. In medieval Europe the royalty used to plant a large garden in the shape of a winding maze. There were a myriad of winding paths with tall hedges on either side so the person standing on the path could not see anything except for directly in front or behind him. They used to play a game and the players would have to find their way to the goal: a beautiful veranda in the middle of the maze. None of the people in the midst of the maze could see anything. But someone in the middle on this terrace could see everything and give direction to the lost players.

So too is it by us, writes the Mesillas Yesharim. We are like the person on the path in the middle of the maze. We have no ability to determine the right path. Those who are in control of their natures are like those who have already succeeded in escaping from the winding paths of the maze. They see the proper path and can direct us to our goal. They tell us, "Go make a cheshbon, the cheshbon of the world."

Rav Ben Zion Brook, zt"l, (Hegyonei Musar, III) writes that this comparison is problematic. In the moshol of the maze those lost souls get proper direction from one who has already succeeded in getting to the goal - the balcony in the middle. From the balcony one can see the right path and direct the people. However, in the lesson to be drawn, what do those who have conquered their natures tell everyone else? They don't give a clear guidelines; they just say, make a cheshbon. This is far from clear directions how to get out of this maze of life. This is more like someone who has found himself in financial problems who goes to his friend for advice and is told, "you have analyze all your accounts and get out of it yourself. That doesn't sound like he's giving any advice.

It must be that the Mesillas Yesharim is telling us that this is the only real advice: You have to figure it out yourself! The only one who can get you out of the maze of life is you. Most of life's quandaries and problems stem from one's individual nature. He is stuck in the quagmire of his desire for honor and his jealousy of others. If he does not find the way to overcome his personal issues, no one else can help him. Even if he would see the true way, he still could do nothing because his bad character traits would prevent him.

Therefore those who have succeeded in conquering their natures, once they have freed themselves from the shackles of their own personal makeup, they tell the confused individual: Go make a Cheshbon! Learn mussar and contemplate on it. Then you will see for yourself how to escape your darkness. They have learned from bitter experience that is the only way out of the maze of life.

If Not Me, Who Else?

Rav Chaim Friedlander zt"l, (Sifsei Chaim p. 19) writes that a person has to be willing to change his mindset.

Rabbeinu Yona in Sha'are Teshuva (Sha'ar 2, section 26) comments, "We learn in Avos (1:14), 'Hillel used to say, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?"' This means that if a person does not wake himself up, all the mussar he learns is of no use."

One shouldn't think that he will change by osmosis just by hearing encouraging lectures. Mussar from others is merely the first wake-up call. Afterwards he must arouse himself and change. If not, all the mussar lectures (or mussar seforim) are useless. True, the mussar goes in when he hears it. But even the most marvelous lecture has merely a temporary impact. The yetzer hora soon causes him to forget it, and it quickly dissipates and fades away.

So what should he do? When he hears mussar, he should reflect on what he has heard and internalize it and think about it constantly. He should expand upon it, and draw conclusions. He should find a place where he will not be disturbed by outside distractions and concentrate on his personal situation. "What is really going to be with me?" Do not give excuses. One must think about the mussar and scold himself. He must not rely on outside reproof alone. He should say to himself, "It all depends upon me, and me alone." His self-reproach should be frequent until it becomes second nature and he feels that he has become a new person.

The Chofetz Chaim had a small room in the yeshiva in Radin. He would often seclude himself in the room to learn mussar. Once Rav Yerucham Levovitz, mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir, came to Radin to visit the Chofetz Chaim. Accompanying him was Rav Tuviah Rotenberg, the Rav of Luna. They went upstairs to the Chofetz Chaim's room and stood by the door. They heard him taking himself to task and examining his day with a fine-tooth comb. He found that altogether almost an hour had been wasted. (Really, the Chofetz Chaim never wasted a minute. The Chofetz Chaim's time wasted meant that he had utilized it for purposes which were not absolutely necessary. For the Chofetz Chaim this was bitul Torah.) He became embittered and started crying about the lost time that could never be recovered. He said to himself, "What will I answer on the Day of Judgment?" (Hame'oros Hagedolim, p. 414)

Once, his talmid Rav Naftali Trop, together with another individual, stood behind the door and heard the Chofetz Chaim enacting out a "play." "Reb Yisroel Meir has died! Reb Yisroel Meir has died!" Everyone came to the levaya. Afterwards he went up to the Beis Din Shel Ma'alah (Heavenly Court). Then they started testing him. "Nu, Yisroel Meir, tell us what you have learned. Start with Mesechta Brachos." He started reciting the gemara word-for-word, together with the commentaries. After some time he got stuck in one place. Then he started crying in a loud voice, "Oy! What is going to be? I don't know it!"

Rav Naftali, being a sensitive person, could not bear remaining there and ran away. The other person, however, controlled himself and remained to hear the rest.

At the end the Chofetz Chaim cried out. "No! He's alive. He's not dead! So do teshuva! LEARN!" (Rav Shimshon Pincus, Nefesh Shimshon, Shaare Emuna, p. 422)

The Dubno Magid, Rabbi Yaakov Kranz, once spoke in a town and a few maskilim (members of the enlightenment movement) attended. After the talk, one of the cynics, who was totally unaffected by the warm and inspiring message, approached the famed Magid. "The sages tell us," began the skeptic, "'that words from the heart penetrate the heart.' Rabbi," he snickered, "I assume that you spoke from your heart. Your words, however, have had no impact on me whatsoever! How can that be? Why didn't your words penetrate my heart?"

Rabbi Kranz smiled. In his usual fashion, he began with a parable. "A simpleton once went by the workplace of a blacksmith, who was holding a large bellows. After a few squeezes, the flames of the smith's fire danced with a fury. The man, who always found it difficult to start a fire in his own fireplace, marveled at the contraption. He immediately went and purchased the amazing invention. Entering his home, he smugly announced, "I just discovered how to make a raging fire with the simple squeeze of a lever!"

He set a few logs in the cold fireplace and began to push the two ends of the bellows together. Nothing happened. The logs lay cold and lifeless. Embarrassed, the man returned to the blacksmith and explained his predicament. "I want a refund!" he shouted. "This blower doesn't work!"

"You yokel," laughed the experienced blacksmith. "You were blowing on cold logs! You must start a small fire on your own! If you do not start with a spark, a fire will never erupt!"

The Magid turned toward the maskil and sadly shook his head. "If there is no spark, the largest bellows will not make a fire."

Gut Shabbos!

________________________________________
© Rabbi Eliezer Parkoff
Rabbi Eliezer Parkoff
Rosh Yeshiva
Yeshiva Shaare Chaim.

Rabbi Parkoff is author of "Trust Me!" (Feldheim Publishers) and "Mission Possible!" (Israel Book Shop - Lakewood).

Rabbi Parkoff is in the final stages of publishing "CHIZUK," a sequel to Trust Me. If you would like to help in sponsoring this upcoming book, or would like to correspond with Rabbi Parkoff please contact him:

rabbi.e.parkoff@gmail.com or 732-325-1257

Yeshiva Shaare Chaim
Rechov Sorotzkin 3
Jerusalem, Israel
972-2-5371622
718-210-3543

Shema Yisrael Torah Network
info@shemayisrael.co.il
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il
Jerusalem, Israel
732-370-3344