Rav Chaim Vital asks a fascinating question: Why does the Torah not specifically command us to avoid negative middos like anger or to develop those associated with the talmidim of Avraham Avinu (Avos 5:19) — a good eye humble spirit and restrained soul? He answers that these middos precede the Torah itself for without them one cannot truly be an acceptor of the Torah.
The aforementioned mishnah in Avos states that the distinction between those who enjoy the fruits of This World and inherit the World to Come and those who inherit Gehinnom and descend into a pit of destruction depends on whether they are the students of Avraham Avinu or Bilaam. And that depends on the possession of the three middos enumerated in the mishnah. In other words even one who is meticulous in the observance of every mitzvah in the Torah will inherit Gehinnom and descend into a pit of destruction if he is lacking the three qualities mentioned for he has not truly accepted the Torah.
In his commentary to this mishnah Rabbeinu Yonah describes possessing these three positive middos as the essence of perfection. Their presence makes possible the interrelatedness of all beings in the world in the way that Hashem intended and their absence makes such a world impossible for it makes it impossible to form lasting bonds between people. Those who view Hashem’s world as limited (i.e. with an ayin ra) will invariably see everyone else as competitors for scarce goods. Haughty individuals perceive others to be of value only insofar as they satisfy their own needs for kavod (honor). And those in thrall to their desires will swallow all in their path to satisfy their desires.
The three negative middos attributed to the students of Bilaam parallel the jealousy desire and pursuit of honor that “take a person out of the world” (Avos 4:28) i.e. render him unfit to exist in the world that Hashem intended. They also make life in the world not worth living.
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