Messilat Yesharim - Path of the Upright

<h1 class=ql-align-center><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>Mesillat Yesharim</span></h1><p class=ql-align-center><strong>Path of the Upright</strong></p><p class=ql-align-center><strong style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)> </strong></p><p class=ql-align-center><strong style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>Rabbi</strong></p><p class=ql-align-center><strong style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>Moshe Chaim Luzzatto</strong></p><p class=ql-align-center><strong style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)> </strong></p><p class=ql-align-center><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>The Ra'Mhal</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>Mesillat Yesharim or Mesillas Yeshorim - Path of the Upright is an ethical (musar) text composed by the influential Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1746). It is different from Luzzato's other writings which are more philosophical.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>Mesillat Yesharim was written and published in Amsterdam. The earliest known manuscript version 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. The dialogue version often sheds light on the more well-known version.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>Mesillat Yesharim is probably Luzzato's most influential work widely learned in virtually every yeshiva since the formal study of musar texts was introduced to the yeshiva curriculum by the Mussar Movement of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>The aim of this work extends beyond the achievement of the perfection of human character in Divine service. Its stated aim is to remind the reader of one's deepest obligations in this regard as well as to encourage the centrality of the deep study of this subject matter in one's daily life. Unlike many other musar books which are ordered according to the authors' own lists of character traits Luzzato builds his work on a Beraita in the name of the sage Pinchas ben Yair whose list goes in order of accomplishment:</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 102 204 1)>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.</span></p><p><br></p>