![]() If you aren't familiar with the enneagram, it is a system of typing personalities and helping people to get to their ideal selves. It is said that it is originated from Kabballah. I personally have found it to be very helpful in helping me identify the core of my struggles. Every person is born with certain tendencies. Some positive and some negative. We are always taught that we are living in order to perfect ourselves. To become "images of G-d." Now the question is - how do we become perfect human beings? How do we become people that are void of any deficiencies? So really every person is different. Every person has to take a different path in order to achieve perfection. We are taught that by acknowledging our faults and then repenting, we become greater people. Some people are more prone the sin of Lashon Horah. While others are more prone to be more lazy. Some people are big gluttons, while others are more prone to jealousy.... Did you ever go to a speech and someone told you "uh uh" this is not for you. I'm talking about lashon horah and this aveirah is not your struggle? No! Because we (naively) think that every person is struggling with the same things in life. We are not realizing that every person has an individual gps system inside. Every person needs to overcome different character traits in order to get to perfection. The enneagram ( as well as the Myers Briggs) is a good starting point to help us decide our point of Bechirah. It tells us which Midah (character trait) is more active in each personality. I found it fascinating to notice the personality types of the people in Tanach. I will expound a bit on this subject here. Now before I start, let me reiterate, that anything I write hear is JUST MY OPINION. Please DO NOT take it as fact. It may also be a bit controversial - to put our forefathers in categories. I never asked a shailah... but I do feel like it helped me personally. If you don't feel comfortable with this - feel free to ask your rav. Moshe Rabeinu, being the quintessential leader, was probably a six. He was loyal to his people even when they sinned. He was also the one to give over the knowledge to klal yisroel. Sixes are very knowledgeable. Dovid Hamelech was probably a 4. He wrote Tehillim, which is all about creatively expressing his emotions. He also admitted to his sin with Batsheva very quickly, which is very hard for a four to do... Shlomo Hamelech was probably a 7. As I quote Miriam Adahan's words "he had 1000 wives and 20,000 horses!" He also wrote mishlei and shir Hashirim, which is very creative and uplifting. He then wrote Koheles which is acknowledging the bare truths of the world even though some of those truths may be negative. ( which is very hard for a 7 to do.) Esther Hamalka was probably a 3. As she used her charming abilities to seduce the king. Mordechai Hatzaddik and Yoseif Hatzadik were probably 8's. As they were the leaders who brought Klal Yisroel to Teshuvah. Yitzchok Avinu was probably a five. Since he was the Olah Temima who sat and learnt a whole day. ( R' Moshe Feinstein was probably that as well.) Avraham Avinu was for sure a 2, as He felt ill if He couldn't give. Pinchos was probably a 1 who stood up for the truth regardless of what was going on around him. Ahron Hakohein was definitely a 9. As He was the peace maker among klal yisroel. He also lit the menorah every day with the same joy and excitement. (Which is hard for the nine's as they can became quite slothy.) So we see that not every person has he same struggles. As well as the same destination. Every person can achieve his potential according to his innate personality. Anton Hakohein cannot become Moshe Rabeinu. And YItzchok Avinu cannot become Yoseif Hatzaddik. Every person has to take his innate characteristics and use them to be a servant for Hashem. And he cannot try to become someone he is not. It just won't work.
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