Mesillat Yesharim

The Mesillat Yesharim (Hebrew: מסילת ישרים English: "Path of the Just") is an ethical (musar) text composed by the influential Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1746). It is quite different from Luzzato's other writings, which are more philosophical.

Mesillat Yesharim was written and published in Amsterdam. The earliest known manuscript of Mesillat Yesharim, written in 1738, was arranged as a dialogue between a hakham (wise man) and a hasid (pious person). Before publication, it was rearranged to have only one speaker.

Mesillat Yesharim is probably Luzzato's most influential work, forming part of the curriculum of virtually every yeshiva since being introduced by the Mussar Movement of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter.

Aim of the work

The aim is the perfection of character. Unlike many other musar books, which are ordered the authors' own lists of character traits, Luzzato builds his work on a Beraita (quoted in many places, including (Bablylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 20b)) in the name of the sage Pinchas ben-Yair, whose list goes in order of accomplishment: "Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said: Torah leads to watchfulness; Watchfulness leads to alacrity; Alacrity leads to cleanliness; Cleanliness leads to abstention; Abstention leads to purity; Purity leads to piety; Piety leads to humility; Humility leads to fear of sin; Fear of sin leads to holiness; Holiness leads to prophecy; Prophecy leads to the resurrection of the dead".

Within each step, Luzzatto explains the step itself, its elements, how it can be acquired, and what might distract from its acquisition. For example: Watchfulness can be acquired by setting aside time for introspection, and acquiring watchfulness can be impaired by excessive mundane responsibilities, wrong company or a cynical stance in life. The same pattern is used for every single one of the traits mentioned.

Outline

Introduction

Man's Duty in this World (Ch. 1)

Watchfulness (zehirut) (Ch. 2-5)

Alacrity (zerizut) (Ch. 6-9)

Cleanliness (of sin, nekiyut) (Ch. 10-12)

Abstention (of improper practices, perishut) (Ch. 13-15)

Purity (tahara) (Ch. 16-17)

Piety (chassidut) (Ch. 18-21)

Humility (anava) (Ch. 22-23)

Fear of sin (yirat chet) (Ch. 24-25)

Holiness (kedusha) (Ch. 26-27)

Epilogue

Influence

Mesillat Yesharim is perhaps the most important Jewish ethical text of the post-Middle Ages period. The Vilna Gaon commented that he couldn't find a superfluous word in the first seven chapters of the work, and stated that he would have traveled to meet the author and learn from his ways if he'd still been alive. These and similar pronouncements largely cleared Luzzato from misgivings by others as to his suspected Sabbatean leanings.

Resources/References

• Complete Messillat Yesharim online
  • Hebrew original
  • English translation
• Translations
  • Luzzatto, Moses Hayyim. Messillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright; translated by Mordecai Kaplan from the critical edition. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society. ISBN 9780827608566.
  • Luzzato, Rabbi Moshe Chayim. Mesillas Yeshorim; translated by Yosef Leiber. New York: Feldheim Publishers. ISBN 1-58330-691-9.
  • Luzzato, Rabbi Moshe Chayim. The Path of the Just; translated by Yaakov Feldman. New York: Jason Aronson Publishers. ISBN 1-56821-596-7.
  • Luzzato, Rabbi Moshe Chayim. The Complete Mesillat Yesharim; translated by Avraham Shoshana and associates. Cleveland: Ofeq Institute. ISBN 1-88125-544-4.
• Commentaries on Messilllat Yesharim
  • Ira F. Stone's commentary, included in the new Jewish Publication Society edition of the book (ISBN 9780827608566).
  • Hillel, Yaakov Moshe. Ascending the Path: Insights Into Mesillat Yesharim. Jerusalem: Yeshivat Hevrat Ahavat Shalom. 7 vol
  • Ohr La'Yesharim on Mesilat Yesharim with a compendium of commentaries and explanations by great rabbis from the Musar Movement.
  • Mesilat Yesharim with commentary Sod L'Yesharim, a compendium of commentaries and explanations from other books by the Ramchal.
  • Mandelbaum, Alexander Aryeh. Bam'silah Naale.
  • Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh on Mesliat Yesharim