Q&A: Why Didn’t the Torah Command Character Traits?
Why Didn’t the Torah Command Character Traits?
Question
Hello Rabbi. I would like to make a claim that occurred to me and hear your opinion on the matter.
I was dealing with several topics connected to refining character traits—”keep far from a false matter” and the prohibition of flattery. And in both cases I came away with the conclusion that in the end the Torah did not prohibit the bad trait itself, but only a branch of it. Regarding falsehood—according to Rabbi Yeruham Fishel Perla (who, in my humble opinion, proves from the Talmud with signs and wonders), falsehood was prohibited only when it comes to extracting money. And regarding flattery—I studied a nice responsum of Rabbi Feinstein, that the prohibited flattery applies to opinions, not to people. That is, it is forbidden to flatter a person in a way that reinforces his falsehood. But it is permitted to flatter a wicked person indirectly, without responding to his falsehood.
And from all of the above, the following reasoning became clear to me: the Torah did not command character traits because it does not deal with the refinement of the individual except when it affects others. Therefore falsehood is forbidden only when it is used to extract money, and flattery when it alters the truth. But a person’s work on himself is his own and his alone. Is it possible to say such a thing? Or is this just empty pilpul in your opinion? Thank you.
Answer
It’s not empty pilpul, but it can also be explained differently. Perhaps personal self-improvement was left as a moral imperative that is not part of Jewish law. By the way, what you mean to say is that Jewish law did not command it—that is, it is not part of Jewish law—but it is still part of the Torah. There are commandments outside the realm of morality that deal with the individual without any connection to the public. So in my opinion your explanation is less likely.
A person’s preoccupation with himself and with improving himself is a disgraceful trait.