## Ohr Yisrael Chapter 12

###### Ohr Yisrael 12:1
[Ohr Yisrael 12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Yisrael/r/12:1)

**הִנְּנִי** בָּא לְמַלְּאוֹת דְּבָרִי אֲשֶׁר נִדְבַּרְנוּ טֶרֶם נְסִיעָתִי, וּלְעוֹרֵר עַל דְּבַר חִזּוּק בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ לְהַרְחִיב תּוֹרָה, אֵין עַל עָפָר מָשְׁלָה, אָכֵן גַּם הַיִּרְאָה וְלִמּוּד הַמּוּסָר רֵאשִׁיתָהּ, כַּאֲשֶׁר הֶאֱרִיכוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ נוֹחֵי נֶפֶשׁ זי"ע הֲלֹא בְּסִפְרֵיהֶם, וּבְאֵין מָקוֹם פָּסוּ שׁוֹחֲרֶיהָ, לָזֹאת בִּהְיוֹת יְמִינְכֶם פְּשׁוּטָה, לְהַחֲזִיק בְּעֵץ הַחַיִּים, אִכְלוּ וִחְיוּ לְעוֹלָם, לְהַרְחִיב מָקוֹם לַתּוֹרָה וְלַתְּעוּדָה, תְּנוּ נָא יָד, לִתְמֹךְ אֲחוֹתָהּ הַצְּעִירָה הַנּוֹפֶלֶת, אֲשֶׁר מֵעָפָר תִּשַׁח אֲמָרֶיהָ לֵאמֹר, סִמְּכוּנִי נָא סִמְּכוּנִי בְּמָקוֹם צַר:

**Ohr Yisrael, trans. Rabbi Irving Greenberg with Rabbi Justin Pines, 2020:**
I have come to fulfill my word as we agreed before I departed and to spur you to strengthen the *beit midrash* through expanded Torah study.¹ There is nothing on earth to compare to it. However, reverence and study of Mussar is the beginning, as our Rabbis, may their souls rest in peace and may their merit protect us, expounded at great length in their books. In the absence of a place [for Mussar study], those who seek it are few. So, since your right hand is extended to grasp the tree of life – eat and live forever!² – expand the place for Torah and law, but please give a hand to uphold its falling younger sister [i.e., Mussar], who, from the dust, cries³ and says: “Strengthen me; uphold me⁴ in my dire situation.”

footnotes:
¹ I.e., to include Mussar study in the basic Torah study curriculum for everyone.
² Compare Genesis 3:22.
³ Compare Isaiah 29:4.
⁴ Compare Song of Songs 2:5.


###### Ohr Yisrael 12:2
[Ohr Yisrael 12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Yisrael/r/12:2)

**וְהָיָה** הָאִישׁ רַךְ הַלֵּבָב, אֲשֶׁר יָנוּעַ לְבָבוֹ וְיָסוּר שָׁמָּה לְהָבִיא מִנְחָה טְהוֹרָה, לִשְׁפֹּךְ נַפְשׁוֹ אֶל ד' יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ, בִּשְׁבִירַת הַלֵּבָב אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִבְזֶה, אָז אֶשָּׂא רֹאשׁ וְאֵדַע כִּי נִשְׁרַשׁ זֶרַע לְצֶדֶק, אוֹ אָז יִכָּנַע לְבָבוֹ לְהֵטִיב מְעַט דְּרָכָיו וּלְיַשֵּׁר מַעֲלָלָיו, הֲלֹא הִצְלִיחַ דַּרְכִּי לְהוֹצִיא פְּרִי יָקָר לְמַעֲנֵהוּ — שִׁמְעוּ נָא לְקוֹלָהּ וְיִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם ד', לְהַצְלִיחֲכֶם בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר תִּפְנוּ לְטוֹבָה, וַתְּרוּ נָא וְאַל תַּעַמְדוּ עַל הַמִּקָּח. הָקֵלּוּ נָא בְּהַפְּרָטִים, כִּי דּוֹרְשָׁיו מוּעָטִים וְחַלָּשִׁים, פֶּן תִּדְחָקוּן וְיִנָּזוֹרוּ הָלְאָה — אַמְּצוּ בִּרְכַּיִם כּוֹשְׁלוֹת, וְחַזְּקוּ יָדַיִם רָפוֹת, לְיִרְאָה אֶת ד' וְלַהֲלֹךְ בִּדְרָכָיו לְטוֹב כָּל הַיָּמִים:

**Ohr Yisrael, trans. Rabbi Irving Greenberg with Rabbi Justin Pines, 2020:**
It will come to be, that a soft-hearted person,⁵ whose heart is moved, will turn [to the Mussar House] to bring a pure offering, pouring out his soul to God, blessed be His name, with a broken heart, which God will not despise.⁶ Then I will lift my head and know that the seed planted for the righteous person is rooted.⁷, then R. Salanter will know that his work was not in vain, and that Mussar study will continue to expand, even where he is no longer present. For then his⁸ heart will humble itself ⁹ to improve his ways a bit and to straighten his actions. Then my way will have succeeded in bringing him good results.
Hearken to [Mussar’s] voice and God will listen to you – so that you may succeed in everything good that you turn to. Compromise a bit, and don’t insist on your own terms. Be flexible about the details, for those who seek [Mussar] are few and weak, lest you push them away, and they become further alienated. Encourage failing knees and strengthen weak hands to fear God and to walk in His ways for good all the time.¹⁰

footnotes:
⁵ Compare Deuteronomy 20:8.
⁶ Compare Psalms 51:19.
⁷ Compare Psalms 97:11; if his students can establish the study of Mussar in the beit midrash
⁸ The lay student of Mussar.
⁹ Compare Leviticus 26:41.
¹⁰ Compare Deuteronomy 10:12–13.


###### Ohr Yisrael 12:3
[Ohr Yisrael 12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Yisrael/r/12:3)

יְדִידְכֶם הַמְבָרְכֶם לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה

**Ohr Yisrael, trans. Rabbi Irving Greenberg with Rabbi Justin Pines, 2020:**
Your friend who blesses you with a good year,


###### Ohr Yisrael 12:4
[Ohr Yisrael 12:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Yisrael/r/12:4)

דוֹרֵשׁ שְׁלוֹמְכֵם בְּכָבוֹד

**Ohr Yisrael, trans. Rabbi Irving Greenberg with Rabbi Justin Pines, 2020:**
who seeks your well-being.
Respectfully...