“The angels returned to Jacob saying ‘We came to your brother to Esau and he is also coming toward you and four hundred men are with him.’ Yaakov was very frightened and he was distressed” (Bereishis 32:7–8)

This seems difficult. We know a person’s [spiritual] level is determined by the degree to which he cleanses himself of physicality; the more he dissociates himself from the mundane the higher his level. Such a person is also better prepared for intellectual matters; this is the consensus of the philosophers.

But we seem to find that Yaakov Avinu was more attached to the mundane than all the philosophers l’havdil. After all he made a vow to Hashem (Bereishis 25:22) on condition that “He will give me bread to eat and a garment to wear” while there have been philosophers who lived as ascetics all their lives.

And then someone showed me the words of Ramban in his introduction to Toras Ha’Adam which are more precious than gold:

“Socrates was sentenced to death and on the day of his execution he continued to study philosophy. Seemingly this is in the spirit of the injunction ‘At the time of a person’s death he should not separate himself from the Torah.’ When they advised him to plead with the king to spare his life he refused. Yet we find that Moshe Rabbeinu pleaded for life. Chizkiyahu also davened for life and we find that Rabi Yochanan ben Zakkai feared death very much.” 

Philosophers follow the desires of their intellects but for us this is a lower level since it can cause us to make mistakes. We follow the Will of Hashem. To them material things are worthless because they are repulsive but for us the opposite is true; it is Hashem’s Will for us to serve Him with lowly material things. (The Alter of Kelm Chochmah U’Mussar)

Yesterday I got a raise. A raise! No one was happier than I was — because of a few extra dollars. More money every month! I’d finally be able to re-wallpaper my dining room.

All joy evaporated the moment I got home and found my neighbor’s children had feasted on a late afternoon lunch in my backyard. 

The blood pounded in my temples. I was ready to burst! Of all the nerve — to exploit my goodness in allowing them to play in my backyard like that! Noodles and disposables were scattered over the grass! I forgot all about my raise.

That night I was disappointed in myself. If I were a better person I wouldn’t have been angry. Is it such a big deal to dump some disposables in the garbage can? Is there such a difference between the neighbor’s noodles and my kids’ spaghetti?

And if I were a better person I wouldn’t have been so thrilled with my raise. Who cares about money or redecorating? What’s so terrible about my wallpaper which makes my house look cozy and familiar even if it’s peeling at the corners? 

Hashem has instituted a system of “measure for measure” so if a person strays off the path of truth Hashem will chastise him and he will recognize his error.… That’s why Yaakov asked for “bread to eat” and so forth. He felt that such a sense of dependence on Hashem would lead him to realize the truth. (ibid.)

You’re a daughter of Yaakov not a child of some Greek philosopher. You don’t cut yourself off from the real world out there.

It’s natural to feel anger. If we always felt apathetic instead of becoming angry we’d never have the opportunity to struggle with our anger and defeat it. If we didn’t enjoy a redecorated room how could we thank Hashem for the bounty in our life?

If we weren’t afraid of death didn’t fear illness didn’t fret over our children’s shidduchim when would we feel the urgency to daven? 

If we never felt pain or suffering didn’t care about a loss or a setback we’d never do teshuvah. We’d never grow. 

If I were truly great I would feel anger threatening to overcome me. I absolutely would but I would try to quell that anger with thoughts of emunah. And I would rejoice over the prospect of new wallpaper thanking Hashem for allowing me to beautify my home. I can live the life of This World feeling everything with deep human sentiments.

It is because of these deep human sentiments that I can truly serve Hashem.