"Iggeret HaRamban" - The Ramban's Letter to His Son
"Iggeret HaRamban" - The Ramban's Letter to His Son
This letter was sent by the Ramban - Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (Nachmanides) to his son, instructing him to read it constantly and to cultivate within himself the qualities it describes, and to teach the same to his own children and to others. At the end, the Ramban added that "on the day you read this letter, you will be answered from Heaven regarding all your requests." And it will help you overcome all problems, troubles, and pain.
Rabbi Eliezer Chaim Rabinowitz of Yampol ("Segulot VeRefuot" 186) taught that for hatzlacha (success) in one's endeavors, one should read the Ramban's Letter morning and evening with love.
Transliteration:
Shema beni musar avicha, ve'al titosh Torat imecha. Hitna'eg tamid ledaber kol devarecha benachat lechol adam uvechol et, uvazeh tinatzel min haka'as, shehi midah ra'ah lehachti benei adam.
Vechen ameru rabotenu zichronam livracha, kol hako'es kol minei Geihinom sholtin bo, shene'emar haser ka'as milibecha, veha'aver ra'ah mibesarecha, ve'ein ra'ah ela Geihinom, shene'emar vegam rasha leyom ra'ah. Vecha'asher tinatzel min haka'as ta'aleh al libecha midat ha'anavah shehi midah tovah mikol hamidot tovot, shene'emar ekev anavah yir'at Ado-nay.
Uva'avur ha'anavah ta'aleh al libecha midat hayir'ah, ki titen el libecha tamid, me'ayin bata, ul'an atah holech, veshe'atah rimah vetole'ah bechayecha, ve'af ki vemotecha, velifnei mi atah atid liten din vecheshbon, lifnei Melech hakavod, shene'emar hinei hashamayim ushmei hashamayim lo yechalkeluchah, af ki libot benei adam, vene'emar halo et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz ani male ne'um Ado-nay.
Vecha'asher tachshov et kol eleh, tira mibor'echa vetishamer min hachet, uvemidot ha'eleh tihyeh same'ach bechelkecha, vecha'asher titna'eg bemidat ha'anavah lehitboshesh mikol adam ul'hitpached mimenu umin hachet, az tishreh alecha ruach hashechinah, veziv kevodah, vechayei olam haba.
Ve'atah beni da ur'eh, ki hamitga'eh belibo al haberiyot, mored hu bemalchut shamayim, ki mitpa'er hu bilvush malchut shamayim, shene'emar Ado-nay malach ge'ut lavesh.
Uvameh yitga'eh lev ha'adam, im be'osher, Ado-nay morish uma'ashir, ve'im bechavod, halo l'Elokim hu, shene'emar veha'osher vehakavod milefanecha, ve'eich mitpa'er bichvod kono.
Ve'im mitpa'er bechochmah, mesir safah lene'emanim, veta'am zekenim yikach. Nimtza hakol shaveh lifnei HaMakom, ki ve'apo mashpil ge'im, uvirtzono magbiha shefalim, lachen hashpil atzmecha vinas'acha HaMakom. Al ken afaresh lecha eich titna'eg bemidat ha'anavah lalechet bah tamid. Kol devarecha yihyu benachat, verosh'cha kafuf, ve'einecha yabitu lematah la'aretz velibecha lema'lah, ve'al tabit bifnei adam bedabercha imo, vechol adam yihyeh gadol mimecha be'einecha, ve'im chacham o ashir hu, alecha lechabedo.
Ve'im rash hu, ve'atah ashir o chacham mimenu, chashov belibecha ki atah chayav mimenu vehu zakai mimecha, she'im hu chote hu shogeg ve'atah mezid. Bechol devarecha uma'asecha umachshevotecha uvechol et, chashov belibcha ke'ilu atah omed lifnei HaKadosh Baruch Hu, ushechinato alecha. Ki kevodo male ha'olam, udvarecha yihyu be'eimah uv'yirah ke'eved lifnei rabo, vetitbayesh mikol adam, ve'im yikra'acha ish al ta'anehu bekol ram, rak benachat ke'omed lifnei rabo.
Vehevei zahir likro BaTorah tamid asher tuchal lekayma, vecha'asher takum min hasefer, techapes ba'asher lamadeta im yesh bo davar asher tuchal lekaymo, utfashpesh bema'asecha baboker uva'erev, uvazeh yihyu kol yamecha bitshuvah.
Veha'ser kol divrei ha'olam milibecha be'et hatefilah, vehachen libecha lifnei HaMakom baruch Hu, veta'er ra'yonecha, vachashov hadibur kodem shetotzi'enu mipicha vechen ta'aseh kol yemei chayei evlecha bechol davar vedavar velo techeta, uvazeh yihyu devarecha uma'asecha umachshevotecha yesharim, utfilatecha tihyeh zakah uvarah unekiyah umechuvenet umekubelet lifnei HaMakom baruch Hu, shene'emar tachin libam takshiv oznecha.
Tikra ha'iggeret hazot pa'am achat bashavu'a velo tifchot, lekayemah velalechet bah tamid achar HaShem yitbarach, lema'an tatzliach bechol derachecha vetizkeh le'olam haba hatzafun latzadikim, uvechol yom shetikra'enah ya'anucha min hashamayim ka'asher ya'aleh al libecha lish'ol ad olam amen selah.
Translation:
"Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother."
Make it your constant practice to speak pleasantly to every person at all times. This will save you from anger, which leads a person into sin. As our Sages, may their memory be blessed, said: "Whoever becomes angry is ruled over by Gehinnom [purgatory]"; as it is said: "Remove anger from your heart, and thereby remove evil from yourself." And "evil" here refers to Gehinnom, as it is said: "And also the wicked one, for the day of evil." And when you free yourself from anger, humility will enter your heart, the best of all good qualities; as it is said: "The reward of humility is fear of the L-rd."
After humility, fear will enter your heart, so that you will always know in your heart from where you came and to where you are going, and that you are but dust and a worm in your life, and all the more so in death; and before Whom you will stand in judgment and give an accounting - before the King of Glory. As it is said: "Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You," how much less the hearts of men.
And it is said: "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" says the L-rd. And if you contemplate all this, you will fear your Creator, guard yourself from sin, and be content with your portion.
And when you strengthen yourself in humility, conducting yourself quietly before all people, fearing the Holy One, Blessed be He, and the committing of sin, then the spirit of the Divine Presence will rest upon you, along with the radiance of His glory and life in the World to Come. And then, my son, you will know and see: whoever is haughty in his heart toward other people rebels against the Kingdom of Heaven, for he boasts in the very garments of the Kingdom of Heaven; as it is said: "The L-rd reigns, He is robed in majesty."
And in what should a person's heart take pride?
If in wealth - the L-rd both impoverishes and enriches. If in honor - it belongs to G-d; as it is said: "Both riches and honor come from You." How then can you boast of honor that belongs to the Creator? And if you boast of wisdom: "He removes speech from the trustworthy and takes away the understanding of the elders." It follows that all are equal before the Creator, for in His anger He humbles the proud, and by His will He raises up the lowly. Therefore, abandon pride - and the Creator will raise you up.
Now I will explain to you how humility should govern your conduct. All your speech should be gentle, your head slightly bowed, your eyes looking downward, and your heart directed upward. Do not stare directly at a person when speaking with him. Let every person be greater than you in your own eyes. For if he is wealthy or wise, it is your duty to honor him. And if he is poor or unlearned, and you are wealthier or wiser than he, consider that if you were to sin, your guilt would be greater than his, for he sins by error while you would sin deliberately.
In all your words, actions, and thoughts, at every moment remember that you stand before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and that His Presence rests upon you. For the whole world is filled with His glory - and then all your speech will be filled with awe and reverence, like a servant before his master. Be humble before every person. And if someone calls out to you, do not answer him in a loud voice, but answer gently, like one who stands before his master. Always study Torah diligently, so that you will be able to fulfill it. And when you rise from the book, search whether there is something in what you have learned that you can put into practice. Examine your deeds morning and evening, and through this, all your days will be spent in repentance.
At the time of prayer, free your heart from all mundane concerns, purify your thoughts, and prepare your heart before the Blessed Creator, and think over your words before you utter them. Do this in every matter, all the days of your life - and then you will not sin. And through this, your words, deeds, and thoughts will be sincere, and your prayer will be pure, clear, transparent, proper, and accepted by the Blessed Creator. As it is said: "You will direct their heart, You will cause Your ear to listen."
Read this letter at least once a week, fulfill it and be guided by it, so that you may continually walk after the Blessed Creator, so that all your paths may be successful, and so that you may merit life in the World to Come that is reserved for the righteous. And on the day that you read this letter, you will be answered from Heaven regarding all your requests.
(From the book "Tehillim - Segulot," published by "Shorashim")
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