Physical Address
Lubbock, TX 79407
Tzava’at HaRivash
Chasidut Author: Yeshaya M’Yanov
Tzava’at HaRivash is a collection of teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov and of his successor, the Maggid of Mezeritch, presented as an ethical will.
Composed: (c.1730 – c.1770 CE)
Current Version: Warsaw, 1913
Source: rosetta.nli.org.il
Digitization: Sefaria
License: Public Domain
ידבק מחשבתו למעלה ולא יאכל ולא ישתה יותר מדאי ולא יענג עצמו רק כדי (רק שישתדל בכל ענינם) להבריא עצמו. ולא יסתכל כלל בעניני עוה”ז ולא יחשוב בהם כלל. כדי להפריד את עצמו מהגשמיות כי בהסתכלותו בעוה”ז מגשם עצמו. וארז”ל ראי’ מביאה לידי זכירה ולידי תאוה. וכתיב בעץ הדעת נחמד למראה וטוב למאכל שמחמת הראי’ הוא נחמד
Bond your thoughts to HaShem above. Do not eat or drink excessively, nor eat for pleasure, but solely to maintain your health. Do not look into the matters of this world at all, nor think about them altogether. On the contrary, in all things endeavor to separate yourself from physicality. For by gazing at the matters of this world you become gross and spiritually callous, as our sages, of blessed memory, said, “Seeing leads to remembering, which leads to lust,” as written about the Tree of Knowledge, that it was, “Pleasing to the sight and good to eat,” that is, its appearance is what made it desirable.
