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Pirkei Avot
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 18
The Oral Law is rich and complex, and incorporates many opinions about each subject. Mishnah 1 through 18 form a self-contained section of Chapter 5. The theme of this Mishnah is that G-d created the world and maintains its existence in conjunction with mankind.
G-d created the world at three levels. The lowest level is the physical existence, and the highest level is spiritual existence. The intermediate level is the plane of form and concept, which, although intangible, are found only in conjunction with substance.
Dedicated to Verne and Gilda John
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 16 and 17
These are the precepts whose fruits a person enjoys in this world, but whose principles remains intact for him in the World to Come; . . . early attendance at the house of study morning and evening . . . and the study of Torah is equivalent to them all.
In this passage, attendance at the house of study is listed separately from the study of Torah because each has its own merit.
There is another reason why the reward for going to study is separate from the reward of the study itself. Going is a physical action, whereas study is an intellectual action, and because the two actions are inherently different they are rewarded independently.
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 14 and 15
Whether one is a staunch character or a flaccid character, their actions will be consistent with their nature. A strong-natured individual will be difficult to anger and equally difficult to pacify. A weak individual will be easily angered and just as easily pacified. It is highly unusual for a person to be firm in one way, such as not getting angry, and soft in another way, such as being easily pacified.
Dedicated to Jeff Dixon
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 12 and 13
He is average because he has a perfect right to keep his property to himself, according to Torah Law. He is not generous enough to be called, scrupulously pious, but neither is he covetous of other’s things.
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 11
HaShem’s Name is identified with the Land of Yisra’el and hence those who dwell in the Land of Yisra’el can especially recognize that He is G-d.
The Land of Yisra’el is called a holy land.
The Land of Yisra’el is called the land of life. It is the center of the world in the sense that it is the central point that gives meaning to all other aspects of life.
Sabbatical year is unique to the holy Land of Yisra’el.
Dedicated to Marty and Pat Morrill
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 11
Pestilence has two attributes. It comes forcefully and it destroys without regard to innocence or guilt. The forcefulness of pestilence makes it a fitting punishment for not enforcing the harsh decree of law. The fact that pestilence attacks without discrimination befits the transgression of Sabbatical year produce which should have been put into a place where anyone or anything could get it.
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 9 and 10
Objects have six sides: top, bottom, front, back, right and left. The six sides have no area in common with each other, but the center is a common point of reference for all sides.
The center joins opposite sides and links the different directions together.
In summary, every physical object has seven parts: six sides and the center. The center is the reference point that links the other six parts together; it is the seventh part. For it is reason the number 7 is used as the symbol of order.
Dedicated to Sue Brown