Hello,
I listened the Episode 9 of your podcast and I have a few questions about the concept of Zehirut and Zerizut.
The idea of Zehirut is not to be absolutely dogmatic and focus solely on avoiding transgressions, because at the end you may not be able to be perfect on that and you may still have some Lo Taase Mitzvot that you don’t fulfill, but is more about having a stronger focus on avoiding transgressions but still doing those positive Mitzvot that you can, right?
What I mean is that at the end the concept of the levels of Zehirut and Zerizut is more about you focusing on certain Mitzvot depending on the level, but at the end knowing that you won’t be perfect and that you will balance positive and negative Mitzvot. Is this a correct understanding?
Thank you! I really appreciate your comments. These past few years have been very difficult for me but your perspective and halachic approach have been a breath of fresh air.
Obviously I still have a lot of work to do. I’m still trying to fully absorb these concepts in my mind. Like you mentioned, we live in a culture obsessed with perfectionism, but the good think is that it seems that now I am walking on the right path.
So good to hear. Be easy on yourself. As you say, you’re on the right path now.
The Yetzer Haraa’s job now is to convince you to do more, to get there faster. Don’t listen to him. (The GRA talks about this in Even Shelema)
Beautiful! Thank you for your clarification.
I would like to ask something else related to the topic.
Based on your article about Teshuva and on what I learned about the topic. It is safe to say that an actual sin is when you do certain action not just deliberately but with disdain towards others or G-d and Torah?
Can we say that when you fail to perform certain Mitzvot (for example you don’t keep Shabbat perfectly or you are not still full Kosher) due to gradual spiritual development, or due to the context you live in, or due to mental health/struggles, physical health, or compulsions you are still working on, it is not considered an actual sin and doesn’t require Teshuva?
You have an excellent perspective, and I’m very impressed. Many people take a long time to reach this understanding because of all the perfectionism ingrained in our culture.
You are absolutely correct: the process of spiritual growth is not about perfectionism. Even the third level described in Mesilat Yesharim, Niqyut (which might sound like “perfection”), is not about being flawless. It’s about working toward purity of motivation and clarity of intention.
For example: let’s say you give tzedakah (charity) to help the poor. At the level of Zrizut (zeal), that’s great — you’re doing the mitzvah. But at the stage of Niqyut, you reflect: “Am I doing this so people in shul will praise me?” If so, you work on refining your motivation — not to become perfect, but to do it more sincerely. Maybe that means calling the organization and asking to donate anonymously. That’s one simple, concrete step, not obsessive perfectionism.
This is the key: we are not perfect, we are not expected to be perfect, and we never will be perfect. Growth means noticing when something isn’t ideal and doing our best to improve it.
As for your second point — you are right that if someone is not fully keeping certain mitzvot because of where they are in their spiritual development, or due to mental/physical health challenges, compulsions, or the environment they live in, this is not the same as deliberate rebellion or disdain for God or Torah. Such actions often fall under the halachic category of ones (circumstances beyond one’s control). In those cases, it does not require Teshuva. Teshuva would not be appropriate.
So yes — excellent point and excellent perspective. Stay on that path, keep refining without falling into perfectionism, and you’ll continue to grow meaningfully.
Great question — you’re definitely on the right track.
In Mesilat Yesharim, Zehirut (watchfulness) is really about living with awareness — paying close attention to your actions, avoiding sin by being conscious of where you’re headed. It’s not about being perfect or obsessively avoiding every possible failure. The Ramchal says that the first step is simply taking time to review your deeds and be deliberate about them. So yes — it’s about avoiding transgressions, but with the understanding that perfection isn’t the goal right away.
Zerizut (zeal) comes after that. Once you’ve built awareness and caution, you put energy and enthusiasm into doing positive mitzvot. It’s about actively running toward good, not just avoiding bad.
And you’re right — the levels are progressive. Nobody does this perfectly, and the Ramchal actually acknowledges that growth is step-by-step. At each stage you balance avoiding wrong with increasing the good you do.
So in short: Zehirut is about conscious living and avoiding missteps, Zerizut is about energizing your mitzvah performance, and both are gradual processes of growth — not an all-or-nothing pursuit of perfection.