The Orchot Tzadikkim is a book about Middot, or
‘characteristic traits’ in English. Rav Amos Lubin shlit’a explained in a shiur
today about Middot the reason behind why we call Middot Middot in Hebrew. As one digs deeper into the beauty behind the
Hebrew language, or Lashon HaKodesh
(the holy language), they tend to realize that every word describes its own
meaning on purpose. For example, the word shamayim
(the Heavens) is really broken up into two words to describe what the heavens
are: sham mayim (over there – water,
that the sky is filled with water).
When a person realizes how we describe characteristic traits
in Hebrew, which is through the word Middot,
they realize Hebrew is not just another language and they can get to the
essence of what being Jewish is all about. The word Middot means measurements. It is true that Hashem provided each
individual with a different amount of each characteristic trait from birth and
it is our job to measure how much of that trait we need to use to respond to
specific actions.
Whether it be anger, love, mercy, generosity, modesty,
patience, etc. we are always filtering our thoughts in order to know what to
say/act and how to perform it. The wise individual is a person who thinks about
everything that occurs to them and measures how much of each ingredient in the
wide spectrum of middot they need to use to approach a situation. If we measure
ourselves correctly we end of being models of behavior and respect for the
world to see and greaten Hashem’s reputation, because it is clear that the
Torah was given to the Jewish people from shamayim and it is up to us to live
it.
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