BS”D 4 Tamuz 5781 We begin now with paragraph five of chapter two of Mesillas Yesharim by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, of blessed memory. In this paragraph, the author compares the advice of the evil inclination (to make oneself busy and consequently avoid thinking about one’s actions) to the order of the wicked Pharaoh that work should be made hard so that men would spend their day working and be unable to avoid reflection on their deeds. This is a common trait of totalitarian governments and cults: the victims are made to overwork, stay hungry and kept too tired so that they will have no time to think. Additionally, this makes them more vulnerable to brain-washing. In fact, there are even modern corporations that try to eliminate “free time” from…

BS”D 3 Tamuz 5781 R. Luzzatto then (Mesillas Yesharim par. 3, chap. 2) touches on self-awareness, reminding the reader that Yirmeyahu was aware of the evils of his generation, saying that many were paying no heed to their actions and instead just kept doing whatever they were doing. Impulsiveness, as R. Luzzatto states, leads into wrongdoing. The text can be easily applied to the present day. I find that resisting against impulsiveness in the current world is much harder than – say – twenty years ago. The temptation to write and send text, to buy without thinking, is much greater than before the advent of instant communication. Messages are written and sent immediately without thought. They do not take hours to write – compared to a letter – and also…