שבת Date: 18 Cheshvan, 5776 (10/31/14) – Sotah#5 {Eliezer}

STATUS SEPARATIONS

[5a middle] R’ Avira (some say R’ Elazar): High status people only relate to others in their elevated circles (and ignore those of lesser classes). But Hashem (even though infinitely great) concerns Himself with all those downtrodden.
Baalei Mussar: In Aleinu we say “Bashamayim Mema’al” – When it comes to spirituality, we should always be looking up (to what more we can accomplish and still have yet to learn). “Vi’al Ha’aretz Mitachas” – For Gashmiyus (physical acquisitions), we should look below us (to see how much we are truly blessed with compared to others who have much less).

D-E-ep Thoughts (based on R’ Rosner): Our ‘natural’ reactions are very much the opposite of what our sages teach we must be striving for. So many people pride themselves in what they have already accomplished spiritually (and use these thoughts to rationalize slacking off even more), while they have a never-ending desire to continually acquire more money and expensive possessions. We have to constantly battle against ‘instinctive’ thinking.