Torah Community Connections

Week 137 - Thursday - 11 July 2002

PIRKEI AVOT: CHAPTER 5: MISHNAH 10

There are four types of people. He who says: 'Mine is mine and yours is yours' - this is the average type; and some say, this typifies Sodom; (He who says) 'Mine is yours and yours is mine' is an am ha-aretz; (He who says) 'Mine is yours and yours is yours' is a pious man; (And he who says) 'Mine is mine and yours is mine' is a wicked man .

Kehati

There are four types of people - varieties of social attitudes expressed in personal or material relations.

1) He who says: 'Mine is mine and yours is yours' - you are not to benefit from me, anymore than I should benefit from you, this is the average type - of person who, though hardly a saint, can neither be called wicked, since he limits his gains to his own domain and does not reach out for what belongs to others; and some say, this typifies Sodom - the refusal to share an advantage with others was a vice practiced by the Sodomites, who thereby ruled out the practice of hospitality. Moreover, they were heartless towards the poor and the stricken, as it is written (Ezek. 16:49); "Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." According to Bartenura, this typifies Sodom means that such average behavior is dangerously close to that of Sodom because out of sheer habit he will begrudge all advantage to others, even when it does not entail any loss to his own person. This was the standard of Sodom where strangers were spurned even though Sodom was spacious and well provided.

Midrash Sh'muel regards the Mishnah's twofold evaluation as alternative, depending upon the intentions of the person in question. If his primary motive is not to draw on what belongs to others, in accordance with the verse (Prov. 15:27): "and he who hates gifts shall live," but in order to strengthen his resolve he adds: Mine is mine, then his attitude is defined as average. But if, driven by avarice, his primary motive is to begrudge others, and his statement yours is yours merely serves to cover mine is mine, then this corresponds to the character of Sodom.

2. (He who says) 'Mine is yours and yours is mine' - allowing others to benefit from what is his, so that eventually he may benefit from what belongs to others, is an am ha-aretz - i.e. he is one of the "people of the land:' for this is a positive trait which serves the needs of society, and represents the common desire of most people to give and to receive in equal measure. Others interpret am ha-aretz in the derogatory sense, as an ignoramus who is unable to distinguish between what is his and what belongs to others (Rashi).

3. (He who says) 'Mine is yours and yours is yours' - refusing to benefit from others, but eager to let others profit from what is his, and is ever ready to assist all men, is a pious man - who goes beyond the requirements of the law.

4. (And he who says) Mine is mine and yours is mine' - deriving profit from others, but unwilling to repay in kind, is a wicked man - who covets the property of others and does not deal kindly with any person.

PIRKEI AVOT: CHAPTER 5: MISHNAH 11

There are four types of temperament: Easily angered and easily appeased - his gain is cancelled by his loss. Difficult to anger and difficult to appease - his loss is cancelled by his gain. Difficult to anger and easily appeased - he is a pious man. Easily angered and difficult to appease - he is a wicked man.

Kehati

There are four types of temperament - varieties of disposition in man: 1. Easily angered - losing his temper over the slightest irritation, and easily appeased - requiring little effort to restore his calm, his gain is cancelled by his loss - i.e. he strikes a negative balance, there being little advantage in his readiness to be pacified, if at any moment he might fly into a rage. Spending most of his life in anger and agitation, he induces people to avoid his company. Thus we read (Ned. 22a): "He who loses his temper lays himself open to all the torments of gehinnom (hell)."

2. Difficult to anger and difficult to appease - his anger is slow to rise, but once stirred, it is difficult to conciliate him, his loss is cancelled by his gain - the effort needed to placate him is offset by his generally placid disposition and reasonable conduct; hence, the balance is positive.

3. Difficult to anger and easily appeased - although angry at times, which is human, and even necessary at times, as with Pinhas ben Eleazar whose anger denoted jealous zeal for the sake of God; yet, since loss of temper is contrary to his nature and, when angered he is easily conciliated, he is a pious man - who rules his spirit and acts beyond the requirement of the law.

4. Easily angered and difficult to appease - one who is readily provoked and then stubbornly refuses to be placated, he is a wicked man - as they said (Ned. 22a): "Whoever is incensed, reveals that his sins outnumber his merits, as it is written (Prov. 29:22): "An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in transgression." Hence our Sages said (Ber. 29b): "Do not seethe (with anger) and you shall not sin."

Return to Mishna Yomit Index

Visit the Mishna Yomit Archives