183. The Opposite Extreme

29:7 A person might think that, since envy, lust, a need for honor and the rest are so horrible, that he should go to the other extreme and shun meat, wine, marital relations, a nice home and clothes in favor of a life of sackcloth. This is also not a good idea and is equally forbidden for a person. One who chooses this lifestyle is considered a sinner. The nazirite is called a sinner for depriving himself (Numbers 6:11) and the Sages explain (Taanis 11a) that if a nazirite is considered a sinner just for abstaining from wine, one who abstains from everything all the more so! Rather, a person should abstain from those things that the Torah prohibits and not make extra restrictions upon himself. The Jerusalem Talmud (Nedarim 9:1) asks, “Has the Torah not forbidden enough things that you must prohibit more yourself?” Accordingly, the Sages prohibited fasts beyond the normative ones. (If one must fast, it’s better to commit to refrain from speaking rather than from eating – Mishnah Brurah 571:2.) Regarding such matters, King Solomon wrote, “Do not be overly righteous or too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?” (Ecclesiastes 7:16) He also wrote, “Make the path of your foot plain and firmly establish all your paths” (Proverbs 4:26).

29:8 In chapter 1, we cited Yehudah ben Tema’s statement to be bold like a leopard, meaning not to be ashamed to serve God despite the scorn of mockers. We should not, however, answer them with equal scorn so that we do not develop the habit to speak brazenly.