He Used To Say: "Make His Will Your Will, So That He May Fulfill Your Will As Though It Were His Will. Set Aside Your Will Because Of His Will, So That He May Set Aside The Will Of Others Before Your Will."

Hillel Said: "Do Not Separate Yourself From The Community. Do Not Be Sure Of Yourself Until The Day You Die. Do Not Condemn Your Fellowman Until You Have Stood In His Place.

"Do Not Make A Statement Which Is Not Readily Understood [In The Hope] That It Will Ultimately Be Understood. And Do Not Say, 'When I Will Have Free Time I Will Study,' For Perhaps You Will Never Have Free Time."

Make His Will

This teaching conveys a fundamental lesson: Each of us has the ability to remake G-d's will, as it were, to arouse a new desire on His part.

To apply this principle: A person might think that since it is G-d's will that we are in exile, we should resign ourselves to the situation. Nothing is further from the truth. G-d is anxiously waiting for us to arouse a new will on His part. He is waiting for us to motivate Him to bring the Redemption.

(Sichos Shabbos Parshas Masei, 5744)

Make His Will Your Own Will

Jewish law requires us to fulfill G-d's will as expressed by the Torah and its mitzvos. Pirkei Avos teaches us to go beyond mere observance of the law and remake our characters, molding them to mirror the intent of the commandments.

The letter of the law tells us which deeds to perform and which to avoid. Pirkei Avos teaches that fulfilling G-d's will should not be a burden we must discharge, but a reflection of our own innermost selves.

When a person makes this commitment..., G-D WILL FULFILL YOUR WILL AS IF IT WERE HIS WILL - that person's will as though it were His will. G-d will modify a person's environment, granting him blessings of health and well-being so that he will be able to express this commitment in his daily life.[16]

Set Aside Your Will Because Of His Will, So That He May Set Aside The Will Of Others

A person's commitment to the Torah must extend beyond his own individual tendencies. When it becomes necessary to set aside his personal will because of His will, he seeks to transform his nature to reflect G-d's desire. This in turn causes G-d to set aside the will of others before that person's will.

The commentaries[17] explain that in addition to its simple meaning, "others" can be understood as a subtle reference to G-d. Even when there is a Divine decree against a person, that person can abrogate it by serving G-d beyond the limits of his nature.

(Sichos Shabbos Parshas Tazria-Metzora, 5747)

Do Not Be Sure Of Yourself

It is only the constant assistance of G-d which enables a person to proceed in his divine service, so his apparent achievements are no indication of his true standing. Thus, without detracting from his overall positive self-image, he must guard against over-confidence.

(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XVI, p. 361)

Do Not Condemn Your Fellowman Until You Have Stood In His Place

A person should never criticize his fellowman until he establishes a commonalty with him. Even when a person's conduct seems worthy of reproof, one should not talk to him with a condescending attitude. By focusing instead on the essential connection which all men share, we can nurture the positive qualities in others and enable them to surface.

(Sichos Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel, 5752)

   

Notes:

16. (Back to text) See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Teshuvah 9:1.

17. (Back to text) R. Ovadiah of Bartenura.