יום ג Date: 27 Kislev, 5777 (12/27/16) – Bava Metzia Daf 92 ~ Eliezer Guterman

GRACELESS GREEKS

[92a bottom] Tosephos: We tell a Nazir not to come near vineyards because a Nazir (even though he may restrain himself) still wants to drink the wine (since it is enjoyable).
RambaM: By Chukim (laws that we do not understand their reasons) [ie: eating meat and milk together or wearing Shatnez (wool and linen together)] even though we may want those certain things, we recognize G-d’s will and we subdue our desires. But by Mishpatim (“sensible” prohibitions) [ie: not stealing and killing], we must train our characters to rise above any evil pulls and not even feel any magnetism towards them in the first place [and not have those “wants” at all].

D-E-ep Thoughts (based on R’ Etiel Goldvicht): In regards to dealing with most physical desires, our goals are to not be affected even the slightest by any temptations. We have the abilities to rise above base physicality and let the inner light of our true essence (the souls that we are) shine through. Chanukah is all about the Greeks who saw ‘Holiness’ in Beauty (as they worshiped superficial physical symmetry), while we see Beauty in Holiness (through the harmony of the physical enhancing the spiritual).