Today is the 106th yahrzeit of the Alter of Novarodok, the title given to the great Mussar teacher, Rabbi Yosef Yozel Hurwitz, who was born in 1847 and died on December 9, 1919.
I have heard that quote ("God is in the details") so many times but not until now did I look into its source. Apparently, it is attributed to the architect Mies van der Rohe. His point was that beauty and perfection in architecture are found in meticulous attention to small elements. It strikes me that is not the same as what Rav Yerucham was saying. His point was the the material and the spiritual are two simultaneous realities. In that case, the focus he was endorsing was not "details" but another level of perception and focus.
My license plate is CHESED which reminds me that I’m not just traveling to a destination but each trip is an opportunity to practice lovingkindness, and patience! Alan give you recommend a book(s) to learn more of the Alter’s Mussar teaching.
Mark, your example of your license plate is perfect. At one level you are traveling to the particular destination for a specific purpose, and at another you are on your way to do chesed every time. Great.
As for getting access to the teachings of the Alter of Novarodok, his main teachings are collected in the book “Madregos HaAdam” which is readily available though it has not been translated into English. There is a book called “Novarodok” by Rabbi Dr Meir Levin that gives a good introduction to the man and his essential teachings.
I have heard that quote ("God is in the details") so many times but not until now did I look into its source. Apparently, it is attributed to the architect Mies van der Rohe. His point was that beauty and perfection in architecture are found in meticulous attention to small elements. It strikes me that is not the same as what Rav Yerucham was saying. His point was the the material and the spiritual are two simultaneous realities. In that case, the focus he was endorsing was not "details" but another level of perception and focus.
Thank you for taking the time to look it up! Up to now, I have been using the quote to describe that there is more than meets the eye of almost everything --the simultaneous realities of doing AND internal level of perception.
I have heard that quote ("God is in the details") so many times but not until now did I look into its source. Apparently, it is attributed to the architect Mies van der Rohe. His point was that beauty and perfection in architecture are found in meticulous attention to small elements. It strikes me that is not the same as what Rav Yerucham was saying. His point was the the material and the spiritual are two simultaneous realities. In that case, the focus he was endorsing was not "details" but another level of perception and focus.
My license plate is CHESED which reminds me that I’m not just traveling to a destination but each trip is an opportunity to practice lovingkindness, and patience! Alan give you recommend a book(s) to learn more of the Alter’s Mussar teaching.
Mark, your example of your license plate is perfect. At one level you are traveling to the particular destination for a specific purpose, and at another you are on your way to do chesed every time. Great.
As for getting access to the teachings of the Alter of Novarodok, his main teachings are collected in the book “Madregos HaAdam” which is readily available though it has not been translated into English. There is a book called “Novarodok” by Rabbi Dr Meir Levin that gives a good introduction to the man and his essential teachings.
Yes, as they say, "God is in the details." Thank you for this reminder.
I have heard that quote ("God is in the details") so many times but not until now did I look into its source. Apparently, it is attributed to the architect Mies van der Rohe. His point was that beauty and perfection in architecture are found in meticulous attention to small elements. It strikes me that is not the same as what Rav Yerucham was saying. His point was the the material and the spiritual are two simultaneous realities. In that case, the focus he was endorsing was not "details" but another level of perception and focus.
Thank you for taking the time to look it up! Up to now, I have been using the quote to describe that there is more than meets the eye of almost everything --the simultaneous realities of doing AND internal level of perception.