משלי, פרק כ״ג, פסוק כ״ה

Proverbs 23:25Sefaria

יִֽשְׂמַח־אָבִ֥יךָ וְאִמֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝תָגֵ֗ל יוֹלַדְתֶּֽךָ׃

A person's pursuit of wisdom and moral discipline is never an isolated journey. Instead, it acts as a powerful force that radiates happiness and deep satisfaction to their entire environment and to everyone who gave them life. Choosing the path of truth and making wisdom a second nature that conquers passing desires and doubts brings profound joy to all who helped shape that individual's character [מלבי״ם, עמנואל הרומי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This continued pursuit of truth is the ultimate key to unlocking both family and spiritual happiness [מצודת דוד, אלשיך].

The happiness experienced by those who raise a child comes in different forms. There is a natural, expected gladness that any father feels when his child simply acts with justice and fairness. However, when a father is wise himself and witnesses his child actively acquiring wisdom, that basic gladness deepens into a much greater and more profound joy [עמנואל הרומי].

Naturally, the parents who biologically brought the child into the world, or those who educated and trained them in the right path, celebrate this success [מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. Yet, the identity of the maternal figure who shares in this celebration carries multiple layers of meaning. She represents the biological mother [אבן עזרא], who experiences a fresh, new joy over her child's self-control and excellent choices, a feeling that goes far beyond the initial happiness she felt when preparing him for life and bringing him into the world [מלבי״ם]. From a practical standpoint, this joy is also shared by the daily caregivers, such as a nurse or nanny, who physically raised the child and now delight in his success [ביאור שטיינזלץ, עמנואל הרומי].

Beyond the physical realm, this maternal role extends to spiritual guides. A teacher or mentor who instills wisdom into a student's heart is considered to have given birth to that person anew [מצודת דוד]. In the most profound sense, the ultimate mother of the human soul is the Torah itself, which guides a person toward eternal life. When an individual studies purely, without treating knowledge as a tool for personal commerce, and goes on to teach others, the Torah itself experiences immense joy that such a complete and upright human being has emerged from its teachings [אלשיך].

נעזרתם בפירוש שלנו ומצאתם בו ערך?

עזרו לנו להגדיל תורה ולהאדירה. תחזוקת האתר והשבחת התוכן כרוכות בהוצאות מרובות. תרומה קטנה שלכם תסייע לנו להחזיק את הפלטפורמה ותהפוך אתכם לשותפים מלאים בהנגשת חוכמת המקרא.

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