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Shabbat Parshat Emor 5780 Pirkei Avot, ​Perek 4

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“Pirkei Avot on Your Own Front Lawn!” Shabbat Parshat Emor 5780 Pirkei Avot, Perek 4 ​ Created with lots of love by: Yehoshua, Rivka, and Moishe Dovid’l Szafranski Youth Directors, Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, N.J. 1 Introduction: There is a long standing tradition that over the course of the six shabbatot between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot, Jewish families ​ from across the world study the six ancient chapters of Pirkei Avot.1 Many reasons have been given to explain this beautiful practice, but perhaps the most relevant one revolves around a well known idea from the midrash. ​ ​ “Esrim v’shisha dorot kadma Derech Eretz et HaTorah... ​ ​ Derech Eretz existed twenty six generations before the giving of ​ the Torah (there are twenty six generations from Adam HaRishon to Moshe Rabbeinu)...”2 Our Sages teach us that before we arrive at Har Sinai at the end of Sefirat Ha’Omer, we must first learn how to act with Derech Eretz- respect, ​ ​ sensitivity, and kindness. Because, in the words of the Maharal of Prague: “It is impossible for the Torah to exist without Derech Eretz… for Derech Eretz is the foundation of the Torah!”3 We learn Pirkei Avot during this time in order to inspire ourselves to be better people who live with Derech Eretz. This is the proper way to prep for ​ ​ the giving of the Torah on Shavuot. Together, as a community, let’s get ready to accept the Torah! Chodesh Tov, Yehoshua, Rivka, and Moishe Dovid’l Szafranski 1 In actuality, there are only five chapters. The sixth chapter was added later- it’s a compilation of various beraytot and statements from the amoraim (see Rashi 6:1, Tifferes Yisroel 2:1; R’ Yaakov Emden 6:1). ​ ​ ​ 2 Vayikra Rabbah, 9 3 Nesivos Olam, Nesiv Derech Eretz 1:3 CBY Youth Pirkei Avot Packet 5780 2 Pirkei Avot, Perek 4 (Pirkei Avot text and translation based on the chabad.org edition. “Points to Ponder” written and compiled by Y&R Szafranski.) 1 ֶבּן זוֹ ָמא אוֹ ֵמר: ֵאיֶזהוּ ָחָכם, ַהלּוֹ ֵמד ִמָכּל אָָדם, ֶשׁנֱֶּאַמר: ִמָכּל ְמַלְמַּדי ִה ְשַֽׂכְּל ִתּי, ִכּי ֵעְדוֹ ֶֽתיָך ֹ ִֽשׂי ָחה ִלי. ֵאיֶזהוּ ִגבּוֹר, ַהכּוֵֹבשׁ ֶאת יְִצרוֹ, ֶשׁנֱֶּאַמר: טוֹב ֶֽאֶרְך אַַֽפּיִם ִמִגּבּוֹר, וּמוֹ ֵשׁל ְבּרוּחוֹ ִמלֵּכד ִעיר. ֵאיֶזהוּ ָע ִשׁיר, ַה ָשּׂ ֵֽמַח ְבּ ֶחְלקוֹ, ֶשׁנֱֶּאַמר: יְִֽגיַע ַכֶּֽפּיָך ִכּי תֹאֵכל, אַ ְשֶֽׁריָך וְטוֹב ָלְך, אַ ְשֶֽׁריָך ָבּעוָֹלם ַהֶזּה, וְטוֹב ָלְך ָלעוָֹלם ַהָבּא. ֵאיֶזהוּ ְמֻכָבּד, ַהְמַּכֵבּד ֶאת ַהְבִּריּוֹת, ֶשׁנֱֶּאַמר: ִכּי ְמַכְבַּדי אכבּד וּבֹזי יֵקלּוּ ֲ ַ ֵ ַ ָֽ . Ben Zoma would say: Who is wise? One who learns from every person. As is stated (Psalms 119:99): "From all my teachers I have grown wise, for Your ​ ​ testimonials are my meditation. "Who is strong? One who overpowers his inclinations. As is stated (Proverbs 16:32), "Better one who is slow to anger ​ ​ than one with might, one who rules his spirit than the captor of a city. "Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot. As is stated (Psalms 128:2): "If you ​ ​ eat of toil of your hands, fortunate are you, and good is to you"; "fortunate are you" in this world, "and good is to you" in the World to Come. Who is honorable? One who honors his fellows. As is stated (I Samuel 2:30): "For ​ ​ to those who honor me, I accord honor; those who scorn me shall be demeaned." --------------------------------------------------------------- Points to Ponder: - “Who is wise? One who learns from every person….” The Baal Shem Tov teaches that life is like a mirror. Whenever we see a fault in another person, it’s really because we possess a similar fault in ourselves. This is one way that we can truly “learn from every person.”4 - If we ever see something that bothers us, it’s really HaShem reminding us to improve in a similar area.5 Looking around the 4 Keser Shem Tov (Kehot), 116. Meor Einayim, Chukas. Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Terumah; Vayakhel. “Torah fun Der Heilig Land,” Vayera, 5776. 5 Also see Likkutei Mohoran 113, of Rebbe Nachman, where he explains that whenever we judge someone else, since we really possess a similar fault, HaShem is giving us the opportunity to judge ourselves. The CBY Youth Pirkei Avot Packet 5780 3 room right now, what’s one object, or one person, that inspires you to grow? --------------------------------------------------------------- 2 ֶבּן ַעַזּאי אוֹ ֵמר: ֱהוֵי ָרץ ְלִמְצוָה ַקָלּה, וּבוֵֹֽרַח ִמן ָהֲעֵבָרה, ֶשִׁמְּצוָה גוֶֹֽרֶרת ִמְצוָה, וֲַעֵבָרה גוֶֹֽרֶרת ֲעֵבָרה, ֶשׁ ְשַּׂכר ִמְצוָה ִמְצוָה, וּ ְשַׂכר ֲעֵבָרה ֲעֵבָרה. Ben Azzai would say: Run to pursue a minor mitzvah, and flee from a transgression. For a mitzvah brings another mitzvah, and a transgression brings another transgression. For the reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah, and the reward of transgression is transgression. --------------------------------------------------------------- Points to Ponder: - “For the reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah…” The mystics read this as ​ saying that the reward for doing a mitzvah, is the joy that one attains when doing a mitzvah properly. In other words, ‘the reward of a mitzvah, is the mitzvah itself!’6 After all, the word mitzvah is related to the word “tzavta,” which means intense connection and closeness. Mitzvot help us become closer to HaShem and feel His love.7 Therefore, performing one mitzvah should inspire us to yearn to do more mitzvot. - What types of deeds make you feel closer to those who you love? Why do they make you feel this way? --------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Baal Shem Tov teaches that one can only be punished by HaShem if the whole world first agrees to the punishment (even the person himself must agree to it!). By finding fault in and judging someone else, we really are finding fault in ourselves, thus confirming that we deserve to be punished as well. The best way to avoid this is to try and judge every person favorably! Also see Otzar HaChaim in Sefer HaBesht II, Kedoshim, #2-3. 6 See Ruach Chaim, 4:16 “Prozdor.” Also see Tanya, Likkutei Amarim, ch. 37. 7 Meor Einayim, Va’era (8). Shlah HaKadosh, Asarah Ma’amaros, Shlishi u’Revii. Be’er Mayim Chaim, Bamidbar 8:2. CBY Youth Pirkei Avot Packet 5780 4 הוּא ָהיָה אוֹ ֵמר: אַל ְתִּהי ָבז ְלָכל אָָדם וְאַל ְתִּהי ַמְפִליג ְלָכל ָדָּבר, ֶשׁ ֵאין ָלְך אָָדם ֶשׁ ֵאין לוֹ ָשָׁעה, וְֵאין ָלְך ָדָּבר ֶשׁ ֵאין לוֹ ָמקוֹם. He would also say: Do not scorn any man, and do not discount any thing. For there is no person who has not his hour, and no thing that has not its place. --------------------------------------------------------------- Points to Ponder: - “For there is no person who has not his hour…” Every person in this ​ world has his or her hour. HaShem gave everyone a unique “tikkun,” a specific part of this world to fix, that only that individual person can rectify.8 Don’t look down upon anyone, because everything in this world was put here for a reason. HaShem needs YOU! ​ ​ - Challenge: Find something random in the room and use it for a mitzvah! Everything was put here for a reason, find it! :-) --------------------------------------------------------------- 4 ַרִבּי ְלוִיַטס ִאישׁ יְַבנֶה אוֹ ֵמר: ְמאֹד ְמאֹד ֱהוֵי ְשַׁפל ֽרוַּח, ֶשׁ ִתְּקוַת ֱאנוֹשׁ ִר ָמּה. ַרִבּי יוֹ ָחנָן ֶבּן ְבּרוָֹקה אוֹ ֵמר: ָכּל ַהְמַחֵלּל ֵשׁם ָשַֽׁמיִם ַבּ ֵֽסּ ֶתר, ִנְפָרִעין ִמ ֶֽמּנּוּ ְבָּגלוּי, ֶא ָחד שׁוֵֹגג וְֶא ָחד ֵמִזיד ְבִּחלּוּל ַה ֵשּׁם. Rabbi Levitas of Yavneh would say: Be very, very humble, for the hope of mortal man is worms. Rabbi Yochanan the son of Berokah would say: Whoever desecrates the Divine Name covertly, is punished in public. Regarding the desecration of the Name, the malicious and the merely negligent are one and the same. --------------------------------------------------------------- Points to Ponder: - “Be very, very humble...” Humility doesn’t mean that we must ignore ​ ​ our talents. A humble person must recognize what they are good at, 8 Sfas Emes, Chayei Sarah (14), 5644 CBY Youth Pirkei Avot Packet 5780 5 thank HaShem for those talents, and then use them to help other people.9 For example, if you are great at a certain subject, thank HaShem for giving you a mind which allows you to be successful at that subject, and perhaps consider tutoring a friend who could use some extra practice. - What are you talented at? What do you enjoy doing? How can you exhibit humility with regards to this talent or activity? --------------------------------------------------------------- 5 ַרִבּי יִ ְשׁ ָמֵעאל ַבּר ַרִבּי יוֹ ֵסי אוֹ ֵמר: ַהלּוֹ ֵמד תּוָֹרה ַעל ְמנָת ְלַל ֵמּד, ַמְסִפּיִקין ְבּיָדוֹ ִלְלמוֹד וְּלַל ֵמּד, וְַהלּוֹ ֵמד ַעל ְמנָת ַלֲעשׂוֹת, ַמְסִפּיִקין ְבּיָדוֹ ִלְלמוֹד וְּלַל ֵמּד ִל ְשׁמוֹר וְַלֲעשׂוֹת. ַרִבּי ָצדוֹק אוֹ ֵמר: אַל ֹ ִתְּפרוֹשׁ ִמן ַהִצּבּוּר, וְאַל ַֽתַּעשׂ ַעְצְמָך ְכּעוְֹרֵכי ַהַדּיִָּנין, וְאַל ַתֲּע ֶֽשׂ ָה ֲע ָטָרה ְלִה ְתַגֶּדּל ָבּהּ, וְלא ַקְרדּוּם ַלְח ָתְּך ָבּהּ, וְַכְך ָהיָה ִהֵלּל אוֹ ֵמר: וְּדִא ְשׁ ַתּ ֵמּשׁ ְבּ ַתָגּא ֲחָלף, ָהא ָלַֽמְד ָתּ, ָכּל ַהנֶּ ֱהנֶה ִמִדְּבֵרי תוָֹרה, נוֹ ֵטל ַחיָּיו ִמן ָהעוָֹלם. Rabbi Ishmael the son of Rabbi Yossei would say: One who learns Torah in order to teach, is given the opportunity to learn and teach. One who learns in order to do, is given the opportunity to learn, teach, observe and do. Rabbi Tzaddok would say: Do not separate yourself from the community. Do not act as a counselor-at-law (when serving as a judge). Do not make the Torah a crown to magnify yourself with, or a spade with which to dig. So would Hillel say: one who make personal use of the crown of Torah shall perish. One who benefits from the words of Torah, removes his life from the world. --------------------------------------------------------------- Points to Ponder: - “One who benefits from the words of Torah, removes his life from the world...” Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches that when a person tastes the sweetness of Torah, that person has jumped from this world to the World to Come.
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    בס“ד Menachem Av 5777/2017 SPECIAL DAYS IN MENACHEM AV Volume 28, Issue 5 Menachem Av 1/July 24/Monday Rosh Chodesh "When Av comes in, we minimize happiness" (Taanis 26B) "In the nine days from Rosh Chodesh Av on we should try to make Siyumim." (Likutei Sichos Vol. XIV: p. 147) Mountains emerged above the receding Flood waters (BeReishis 8:5, Rashi) Plague of frogs in Mitzrayim. (Seder HaDoros) Yartzeit of Aharon HaKohen, 2489 [1312 BCE], the only Yartzeit recorded in the Torah, (BaMidbar 33:38) (in Parshas Masaei, read every year on the Shabbos of the week of his Yartzeit) Ezra and his followers arrived in Yerushalayim, 3413 [457 BCE]. (Ezra 7:9) Menachem Av 2/July 25/Tuesday Titus commenced battering operations In Av 5331 [430 BCE] there was a debate against the courtyard of the Beis between Chananya ben Azur and Yirmi- HaMikdash, 3829 [70]. yahu. Chananya prophesized that Nevu- chadnetzer and his armies would soon The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe arrived in leave Eretz Yisroel, and all the stolen vessels Eretz Yisrael, on his historic visit, 5689 from the Beis Hamikdash would be re- [1929]. turned from Bavel along with all those who were exiled. Yirmiyahu explained, that he Menachem Av 4/July 27/Thursday too wished that this would happen, but the Nechemiah began building a wall around prophesy is false. Only if the Jews do TZCHOK CHABAD OF HANCOCK PARK Yerushalayim, 3413 [444 BCE] Teshuvah can the decree be changed. (Nechemiah 6:15). Yirmiyahu also said that in that year Chananya will die, since he spoke falsely in Yartzeit of R.
  • Simchas Torah & a Lost Minhag of the Gra,Kol Nidrei

    Simchas Torah & a Lost Minhag of the Gra,Kol Nidrei

    Simchas Torah & a Lost Minhag of the Gra Simchas Torah & a Lost Minhag of the Gra By Eliezer Brodt Chol HaMoed Succos is the Yarzheit of the Vilna Gaon (for an earlier post on the Gra see here and here). In this post I hope to show a source for a “forgotten” Minhag of the Gra. In 1921 the great bibliographer (and much more) Yitzchak Rivkind described a strange custom he saw during the time he learned in Volozhin (after it was reopened and headed by R’ Rephael Shapiro), in an article about Minhag HaGra. On Simchas Torah they would open the Aron Kodesh when saying Aleinu, both at night and during the day, and while singing the Niggun of Mussaf of Yom Kippur would bow on the floor exactly like we do on Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur. When he asked for the source of this Minhag he was told it comes from the Gra. When he visited Vilna sometime later he found the only place that they observed this unique Minhag was in the Kloiz of the Gra, but nowhere else in Vilna.[1] In 1933 R’ Meir Bar Ilan printed his memoirs in Yiddish for the first time (in book form); in it he describes the great Simcha in Volozhin on Simchas Torah, that of his father the Netziv and of the Talmidim. He then writes that when they got to Aleinu they would open the Aron and with Niggun of Mussaf of Yom Kippur would sing and bow on the floor exactly like we do on Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur.[2] However, this custom is not mentioned in the Maaseh Rav or any of the other collections of Minhagim of the Gra.
  • New Sefer Torah for Nishmas

    New Sefer Torah for Nishmas

    NEWS 25 Iyar 5775 // May 14, 2015 Community 39 Harav Yehudah Aryeh Treger, zt”l A tribute for the sheloshim The Antwerp community was greatly In 1953, he joined Slabodka Yeshivah in During Rav Treger’s tenure, the yeshivah difficult treatment that he was receiving, saddened a month ago by the news of Bnei Brak and became a talmid of Harav gained a high reputation around the world, the Rosh Yeshivah continued learning the petirah of Harav Yehudah Aryeh Mordechai Shulman, zt”l. In addition to and the number of bachurim increased Torah with all his strength. In a poignant Treger, zt”l. The Torah world has lost the actual words of Torah that he received greatly. With the help of his distinguished fulfillment of the invitation of Rav Aharon an outstanding talmid chacham who from his rebbeim, Rav Yehudah Aryeh Rebbetzin, tlch”t, he dedicated all his Kotler so many years before, he was even represented a living link with the postwar had the ability to absorb their deeper strength to the yeshivah and to learning able to transmit a previously unknown Gedolei Yisrael who lived in Eretz Yisrael. derech halimud, which he was later able Torah. For many years, they lived on the shiur of Rav Aharon. Harav Treger was fondly known in to transmit in his shiurim to the talmidim. yeshivah premises. As Wilrijk is in the Rav Yehudah Aryeh was niftar on Antwerp as “the Rosh Yeshivah.” He At the age of 18, he had already mastered suburbs of Antwerp, they had few Jewish Monday after Pesach, and the levayah led Yeshivas Etz Chaim, Wilrijk, with many Masechtos, and knew by heart 800 neighbours, but the Rosh Yeshivah was took place in front of Beth Medrash distinction for more than half a century, blatt of Gemara.
  • Judaism and Jewish Philosophy 19 Judaism, Jews and Holocaust Theology

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    Please see the Cover and Contents in the last pages of this e-Book Online Study Materials on JUDAISM AND JEWISH PHILOSOPHY 19 JUDAISM, JEWS AND HOLOCAUST THEOLOGY JUDAISM Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Talmud. According to Jewish tradition, the history of Judaism begins with the Covenant between God and Abraham (ca. 2000 BCE), the patriarch and progenitor of the Jewish people. Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still in practice today. Jewish history and doctrines have influenced other religions such as Christianity, Islam and the Bahá’í Faith. While Judaism has seldom, if ever, been monolithic in practice, it has always been monotheistic in theology. It differs from many religions in that central authority is not vested in a person or group, but in sacred texts and traditions. Throughout the ages, Judaism has clung to a number of religious principles, the most important of which is the belief in a single, omniscient, omnipotent, benevolent, transcendent God, who created the universe and continues to govern it. According to traditional Jewish belief, the God who created the world established a covenant with the Israelites, and revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of the Torah, and the Jewish people are the descendants of the Israelites. The traditional practice of Judaism revolves around study and the observance of God’s laws and commandments as written in the Torah and expounded in the Talmud. With an estimated 14 million adherents in 2006, Judaism is approximately the world’s eleventh-largest religious group.
  • HASIDISM: Historical Overview 659

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    the time, however, he suffered from ill 239–266; Hans Schleier, Geschichte der deuts- Besht’s circle of Hasidim and their disci- health, and though he moved to Vienna, chen Kulturgeschichtsschreibung (Waltrop, Ger., ples became charismatic leaders in he was too weak to dedicate himself fully 2003), vol. 1, pt. 2, pp. 879–892; Otto Wittner, numerous communities in the regions of to this position. With his wife and young Moritz Hartmanns Leben und Werke, 2 vols. Ukraine, Subcarpathian Rus’, and Belo- (Prague, 1906–1907). russia, attracting admirers and curious in- son, Ludo (later a well-known historian), —Wilma Iggers he was largely supported by Jewish phi- dividuals, particularly young Torah schol- lanthropists. Hartmann was distressed by ars unable to satisfy their spiritual needs the Prussian victory of 1866 and even HASIDISM by traditional methods of scholarship. more by the unification of Germany that [To treat the historical rise, beliefs, and prac- Poland experienced dramatic political was engineered by Bismarck in 1871. tices of the movement known as Hasidism, changes during the 1700s, culminating in Although Hartmann was the grandson this entry includes five articles. The first is a the last quarter of the century with that of the famous Prague rabbi El‘azar Fleck- historical overview that describes the devel- country’s partition among the surround- eles, and despite the fact that many of his opment of the movement and its geographic ing absolutist states; at the same time, the friends were Jews, he was alienated from expansion from the late eighteenth century autonomous Jewish community began his religion.