Igeret HaRamban — The Letter of Nachmanides

The Letter of Nachmanides

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

Always make it your habit to speak all your words gently, to every person and at every time,

and by doing so you will be spared from anger, which is a harmful trait that leads people into sin.

So taught our sages, of blessed memory:

"Whoever is given to anger — all the forces of Gehinnom gain power over him,"

as it is said: "Remove anger from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh,"

and 'evil' refers to nothing other than Gehinnom, as it is said: "Even the wicked, for the day of evil."

And when you have been spared from anger,

let the quality of humility rise in your heart, for it is the finest of all the fine qualities,

as it is said: "The reward of humility is the fear of Adonai."

And through humility, let the quality of reverence rise in your heart,

for you should always set your mind on this:

From where have you come, and to where are you going,

that in your lifetime you are a worm and a maggot — and all the more so in your death,

and before Whom you will one day give account and reckoning,

before the King of Glory,

as it is said: "Behold, the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain You, how much less the hearts of human beings,"

and it is said: "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth — declares Adonai."

When you reflect on all of these things, you will stand in awe of your Creator and guard yourself from sin,

and with these qualities you will find joy in your portion.

When you conduct yourself with the quality of humility — abashed before every person and in awe of them

— and in awe of the Blessed Holy One — and of sin,

then the spirit of the Shekhinah will rest upon you, and the radiance of its glory, and the life of the World to Come.

And now, my son, know and understand:

that one who is arrogant in heart toward other creatures is in rebellion against the Kingdom of Heaven,

for he adorns himself in a garment that belongs to the Kingdom of Heaven,

as it is said: "Adonai reigns — He has robed Himself in grandeur" and so on.

With what, then, should the human heart take pride?

If it is wealth — it is Adonai who impoverishes and enriches;

if it is honor — honor belongs to God,

as it is said: "Wealth and honor come from You;"

so how can one take pride in the honor of one's Maker?!

And if one prides oneself on wisdom — "He removes speech from the trusted, and takes away the discernment of elders":

all things are found to be equal before the Blessed Holy One,

for in His anger He brings the proud low, and in His will He raises the humble,

therefore bring yourself low, and the Holy One will lift you up.

I will therefore set out for you how to conduct yourself in the quality of humility, walking in it always:

Let all your words be gentle, and your head bowed,

your eyes directed downward to the earth and your heart directed upward above,

do not stare at a person's face when speaking with them,

let every person seem greater than yourself in your eyes,

if someone is wiser or wealthier than you — it is upon you to honor them,

and if someone is poorer than you, and you are wealthier or wiser —

consider in your heart that you are more culpable than he, and he is more innocent than you,

for if he sins, he does so unintentionally, while you would sin deliberately.

In all your words and deeds and thoughts, at all times,

imagine in your heart that you are standing before the Holy Blessed One,

and His Presence rests upon you, for His glory fills the world.

Let your words be spoken with awe and reverence, as a servant before his master,

and be abashed before every person,

and if someone calls to you, do not answer in a loud voice — only gently, as one standing before his master.

Be diligent always to study the Torah, as much as you are able to fulfill.

And when you rise from the book, examine what you have learned to see whether there is something in it you can fulfill,

and examine your deeds every morning and evening —

and by doing so, all your days will be spent in return.

Banish all worldly matters from your heart at the time of prayer,

and prepare your heart before the Blessed Holy One, and purify your thoughts,

and consider what you wish to say before the words leave your mouth,

and do this all the days of your fleeting life, in every matter and every thing, and you will not sin,

and by doing so your words and deeds and thoughts will be upright,

and your prayer will be pure, clear, clean, focused, and received before the Blessed Holy One,

as it is said: "You prepare their heart — You incline Your ear."

Read this letter once every Shabbat and no less, to fulfill it and walk by it always after Adonai the Blessed,

so that you may succeed in all your ways and be worthy of the World to Come that is hidden away for the righteous,

and on every day that you read it, may you be answered from heaven in all that rises in your heart to ask, forever — Amen, Selah.