Torah Community Connections

Week 133 - Tuesday - 11 June 2002

PIRKEI AVOT: CHAPTER 2: MISHNAH 6

He also saw a skull floating on the surface of the water. He said to it: Because you drowned someone, you were drowned, and in the end those who drowned you will be drowned.

Kehati

This Mishnah teaches that every evildoer receives his punishment, measure for measure, as they said (Sot. 8b): "According to the measure a man metes out, so it is meted out to him." Nothing on earth comes by chance; everything is ordained from Heaven.

He - Hillel - also saw a skull floating on the surface of the water. He said to it: Because you drowned someone, you were drowned - you were evidently a criminal who robbed and killed people, and then drowned them in the river to cover up your deeds, and therefore suffered a corresponding fate, and in the end those who drowned you will be drowned - having killed you without legal sanction, they have incurred the death penalty. G-d chose to transmit you into their hands because Divine punishment is effected through a person of guilt, and in due course your murderers will in turn be called to account by G-d as it is written (Job 34:11): "For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and every man according to his ways will He recompense."

PIRKEI AVOT: CHAPTER 2: MISHNAH 7

He used to say: The more flesh, the more worms; the more possessions, the more worry; the more wives, the more sorcery; the more maid-servants, the more unchastity; the more men-servants, the more robbery; the more Torah, the more life; the more sitting (in the academy), the more wisdom; the more counsel, the more understanding; the more charity, the more peace. He who acquires a good name - acquires it for himself; he who acquires words of Torah - acquires for himself life in the world-to-come.

Kehati

Hillel teaches us that man's ambitions in this world should be directed to Torah, mitzvot, and proper conduct. In worldly affairs, man should only strive to cover his basic needs; whatever he accumulates above that, is to his own detriment (Hameiri).

He used to say: The more flesh - he who puts on weight through excessive eating and drinking, the more worms - will he attract in the grave after his death. Alternatively, even when alive, he attracts the worms, by the diseases visited upon him through overindulgence in delicacies (Binoh L'itim); the more possessions - and treasures one accumulates, the more worry - he must guard his wealth from losses and robbery, for there are "riches kept for the owner thereof to his hurt" (Eccl. 5:12); the more wives, the more sorcery - as "mostly women engage in witchcraft" (Sanh. 67a). Alternatively, because each wife will try to find favor in his eyes and attract him through magic; the more maid-servants, the more unchastity; the more men-servants, the more robbery - male and female servants were prone to lewdness and deceit, as we read (Pes. 113b): "Five things Canaan commanded his sons: Love one another; love robbery; love lewdness; hate your masters; and never speak the truth" (one must beware of them, for such are their habits, as if instructed by their ancestor - Rashbam). According to Bartenura, the Mishnah presents the following pattern: A man begins by grooming himself, eating and drinking and putting on weight; then he strives to increase his possessions; once rich and able to support several wives, he becomes polygamous; since each woman needs personal attention, he acquires a host of maid-servants; having thus increased his household, he needs fields and vineyards to supply wine and food, and an array of men-servants to till them.

But, the more Torah - one studies, the more life - one gains, as it is written (Prov. 9:11): "For by Me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased"; the more sitting - before the scholars the more wisdom - is gained in worldly matters as well. Alternatively, this phrase refers to the teacher, the greater the number of students who sit before him, the more wisdom he acquires from the students who sharpen his mind. Another interpretation of the Mishnah: The more wisdom, the more sitting - if the teacher presents his lessons tastefully and sensibly, many more students will sit in to learn from him; the more counsel - the person who does not rely on himself prefers to draw from the wise, the more understanding - he gains from the advice given to him, revealing as it does the underlying process of reasoning and deduction; the more charity, the more peace - as it is written (Is. 32:17): "And the work of righteousness (tzedakah - which also means charity - tr.) shall be peace." Our Sages explain (Vayikra Rabba 34): "The poor man sits and broods: 'In which way am I inferior to this (rich) man? Yet, he sleeps in his bed, and I sleep here; he sleeps in his house, and I sleep here!” Then you come and help him out (by charity)! By your life (says G-d), I reckon it unto you as if you made peace between him and Me”.

He who acquires a good name – through Torah, wisdom and charity, acquires it for himself - whereas other acquisitions may be shared with others, a good name belongs solely to its bearer; hence (Eccl. 7:1): “A good name is better than precious oil”. Another explanation is that by the acquisition of a good name, man is a mere nonentity (Tosefot Yom Tov). He acquires words of Torah, acquires for himself life in the world-to-come – whoever is privileged to make the Torah his actual possession, whose soul clings to the true basis of life, thereby acquires life in the world-to-come.

Return to Mishna Yomit Index

Visit the Mishna Yomit Archives