ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף קהלת 9:17

In the first chapter of Rosh HaShana (Rosh Hashanah 17a): “the minin and the apikorsim who deny the Torah and deny resuscitation of the dead, and separate themselves form the ways of the community, and they placed fear on the land of the living [i.e. they imposed fear on others], etc. ‘They placed fear on the land of the living’ - this is a parnes [secular community leader] who imposes too much awe on the community not in the name of heaven, as Rav Yehuda said that Rav said, any parnes who imposes too much awe on the community not in the name of heaven will not see a son who is a Torah scholar, as it says (Job 37:24), “Men do therefore fear Him; He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.”” And behold, the parnes who imposes too much awe on the community, he is like all of the minim and those who separate themselves from the way of the community, for also the parnes who imposes too much awe on the community, he separates himself from the community and is not included in the community. Of course, when he does it in the name of the heavens and for the sake of the community, this is not referred to as separating from the community, but when it is not for the sake of the heavens, then behold he separates from the community. And I already explained the matter of separating from the way of the community, which is separating from the Name May He Be Blessed, because He May He Be Blessed is called the God of Israel, and therefore it is fitting that one who separates from the community will be considered like one who separates from the Name May He Be Blessed, and this matter is clear. And that which is said that he will not see a son who is a Torah scholar, it’s meaning is (Kohelet 9:17) “The words of the wise spoken in calmness are heard,” and this we explained above, for every matter of the seichel [intellect] is calm, and organized, and the seichel does not leave the order like the other forces that are in man that act with their power, for it is not a matter of seichel unless it is organized. And therefore it is said that one who imposes too much awe on the congregation not in the name of heaven will not see a son who is a Torah scholar, because the seichel is also the parnes and the leader of all the limbs of the man, and it leads with calmness, and thus it is fitting that the man who leads the community without having to be admired by those beneath him, it is like the intellect of man that leads the city as they are all the limbs of the man, for man is called a city, as it says (Kohelet 9:14) “there was a little city, and few men within it,” etc., as was explained above. And just like it is thus with a person, so too it is fitting when leading a community, and if one does not lead the community thus, and only rules the community by force and imposes too much fear on the community, a son who is a Torah scholar will never derive from him, for how can a son who is a Torah scholar derive from him, since his leadership is not similar to the power of the intellect which is a parnes who also leads the community with order and calmness, and this matter should be understood.