Rabbi Wolbe, Alei Shur

Divrei Torah are not just intellectual conversations. Our living Torah is a synthesis of learning and action. Torah without action is not a living Torah and a Mitzvah without learning Torah is not a fulfilled life.

People tend to go and collect the various philosophies from around the world and, from them, they create their own "world-view." Sometimes this view turns into action and sometimes it remains a thought, because these views are broad, general, and loose- they don't inform one how to live from day to day.

Torah is not a world "view" because it is not the created philosophy of man, rather it is the wisdom of the makeup of the world itself.

Michtav MeEliyahu- Rav Dessler (Translated and paraphrased)

How is it possible that Yitzchak made such a huge mistake? It must be that there was a sufficient point to be mistaken about. The real point of the mistake could be found in the words "Trappings in his mouth." The phrase means to point out that the trappings were specifically in his mouth. Meaning that there were sparks of holiness that only remained in his mouth; possibilities and potentials of holiness that remained there but never reached his hands. These feelings of holiness never became reality. He (Esav) would ask Ytzchak, "How do I do maaser?" This was the way he spoke to his father and others, but these queries would remain external to him. He would never actually do anything. Rather, he would just talk about it. This lead to the Torah remaining external to him. Therefore, anyone who speaks about mussar or feelings of repentance, and they stay in their mouths- he is a comrade of Esav. Hashem should protect us from such things!

Chilul Hashem is the void of G-d. (when) G-d is only in philosophy and sentiment but not in the world, not in action or actuality. -Rav Chayim Volozhiner

Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, The Progressive Candles: A Commentary on Jewish Life

My dear friends, that is precisely what Rabbis are afraid of - that it's all in here, that the good heart is something which lies buried between ribs and behind the diaphragm, and whose warm heart-beats cannot be heard without the aid of artificial instruments. The "good heart" is the excuse of the sitter or the stander. The "good heart" excuse is in the tradition of Greece, and not Israel, I am very wary, indeed, when all a person has to offer is a good heart; whose good intentions cannot be reflected in good limbs and good pockets and good deeds. 

'Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.’
— Henri Bergson, Philosopher

Taking it L'maaseh!

Let us think to ourselves about some core beliefs we have in our lives and think about how we use these beliefs to actually relate to the world. 

Ex: I believe that treating people well is a fundamental aspect of what it means to be a ben-Torah. Therefore I greet people with a smile, speak with respect, try not to exclude. 

Ex 2: I believe that Hashem created the world. Therefore I treat things and others with respect, look for meaning in my life, etc.

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