יום ה Date: 20 Shevat, 5777 (2/16/17) – Bava Basra Daf 25 ~ Eliezer Guterman

DISPROPORTIONATE DUNG

[25a top] Abba bar Zavda (some say Abba bar Zutra): If one is winnowing, he must distance himself from his neighbor’s plowed fields. Although in general some chaff/fertilizer is good for fields, too much of it causes the field to get too muddied (and is detrimental to it, instead of being a benefit).
R’ Rosner: We generally do not want ‘too much of a good thing.’ As we learn from the Sefiros, every quality must be used through a harmonic middle ground balance [RambaM: except Ga’ayvah (haughtiness) & Kaas (anger) which one must completely stay away from].
R’ Tatz: Avraham’s quality of Chessed (loving-kindness) was taken to the extreme through evil by his son Yishmael [too much inappropriate giving in all the wrong places]. Yitzchak’s quality of Gevurah (strength/discipline) was taken to the extreme through evil by his son Esav [too much killing]. Yaakov was the one to display Tiferes (harmony/compassion) and all his sons were the only ones to all eventually turn out great and together.

D-E-ep Thoughts: All physical things when taken in excess lead to harmful effects (ie: too much good food makes one sickened). The opposite holds true for spirituality. The more we learn the more we grow and the more we become connected to the Oneness of Hashem.

Today’s P.I.P. (Put Into Practice) TIP: Make sure to properly ‘enjoy’ physical pleasures within a correct framework of Halacha, with spiritual altruistic intentions, and most importantly in moderation.