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Pirkei Avot
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 25b and 26
Ben Bag Bag wishes to convey the importance of the Torah. “Everything is in it” means that the Torah describes the entire universe, but why would that be so?
Mankind is the point of Creation and hence all Creation is subsidiary to mankind. Furthermore, Torah is the conceptual scriptures that G-d established for human conduct. Since Creation exists to support human existence, the structure of Creation must follow from Torah’s structure for mankind. Hence, Torah is the original premise of Creation, as the Rabbis said, The Holy One, Blessed is He, looked in the Torah to create the world.
If one could fully comprehend Torah, he would have grasped the structure of all existence.
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 25
A man is not a complete entity without a wife. As the Rabbis say: Whoever does not have a wife is not an Adam (person), as it says: “On the day G-d created mankind. . .male and female He created them, and He blessed them and called their name Adam.”
A man’s physical growth is it at its peak at eighteen, and then it is time to grow in another dimension, by expanding his life to include another. This stage of life begins at eighteen and continues until twenty, when he is ready to provide leadership in the household.
It is noteworthy that eighteen is a quarter of man’s life span of seventy years. In this way our lives parallel the sun, which reaches the zenith of its strength at noon, after one quarter of its 24-hour cycle.
Dedicated to Peggy Wingate
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 23 and 24
In metaphysical terms, we may say that things tend to eventually join with their like kind, as water flows to join water. Since the power and strength that underlie being brazen are qualities of fire, the fire of the brazen personality will by nature join the fire of Gehinnom.
In simpler terms, we may explain that the wicked act energetically to go outside the bounds of decent behavior. Hence, it is fitting that they will experience the unconstrained power of the fire of Gehinnom.
Being shamefaced is the opposite quality to being brazen. Such a person is passive and accommodating and hence belongs in the tranquil, stable repose of Gan Eden.
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 22
A Good Eye means benevolent (generous). Avraham would draw travelers in to be guests in his home and he was kind and generous. We see his humble spirit when he refers to himself as dust and ashes while pleading for the lives of the people of Sodom. A meek soul means that one is satisfied with what he has and not desirous of others possessions. Avraham had every right to keep the spoils of war, but he rejected taking anything “from a thread to a shoelace; I will not take anything that is yours”.
Dedicated to Wanda Pennington
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 21 and 22a
What is the reason that: “Whoever influences the masses to become meritorious shall not be the cause of sin?” So that he should not be in Gehinnom (Purgatory) while his disciples are in Gan Eden (Paradise).
What is the reason that “one who influences the masses to sin will not be given the means to repent?” So that he should not be in Gan Eden while his disciples are in Gehinnom.
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 20
There are three categories of disputes. Two of these are diametric opposites: personal conflict, which G-d abhors, and debate that is purely for the sake of Heaven, which G-d helps support. The intermediate category is a dispute that is sincerely motivated, but also has an element of pride or competition. In these, G-d does not intervene.
Dedicated to Barbara Green
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 18b and 19
In Mishnah 19 we find an explanation of the power that lies within the number one, for love is union, and unity endures.
Something that consists of parts, but is an integral whole, has no weakness from within, and no vulnerable seam where destruction forces could take hold. Therefore a solid entity will endure, because there is no factor, internal or external, that will bring it to an end.
Love that is purely union with another, with no element of gain to be had from the relationship, is just such an entity. It has the internal strength of integrity, and it is immune to external attack. Such love endures forever.