Showing posts with label Pirkei Avot. Show all posts

Vayera - Say Little and Do Much

Sunday, October 21, 2018 · Posted in , , , ,

“Shammai said, make your Torah study fixed, say little and do much, and receive everyone with a cheerful countenance.” (Pirkei Avot)

Tzaddikim promise little and do much, while the wicked make big promises and do not even keep a minimum. 

All Avraham promised the angels was a little bread, but subsquently he served them a meal fit for a king for which he slaughtered three oxen and used nine sa'ah of flour. He also served them butter and milk. (Bereishit 18)

How do the tzaddikim know that one must promise little and do more? They imitate Hashem Himself. When He promised that He would judge the Egyptians as the end of the exile. He assured Avraham, "And also the nation whom they shall serve will I judge!" (Bereishit 15:14) The promise contained merely two letters - דן (I will judge) yet subsequently He brought Ten Plagues upon the Egyptians!


Kitzur Shulchan Aruch: Run Swiftly to Do Good

Tuesday, May 9, 2017 · Posted in ,

Yehudah, the son of Tema, said, "Be strong as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleet as a hart, and strong as a lion, to do the will of your Father Who is in heaven." (Pirkei Avot 5.23).
"Strong as a lion" means that no man should be ashamed of the people who mock him when engaged in the service of G-d, B"H.

"Light as an eagle" refers to the vision of the eye, i.e. be swift in shutting your eyes not to look at evil things, because vision is the inception of sin - the eye sees, the heart covets, and the instruments of action complete it.

"Fleet as a hart" refers to the legs, i.e. your feet shall always run swiftly to do good.

"Strong as a lion" refers to the heart, because the seat of strength to do the service of G-d, B"H, is in the heart. It is the duty of man to strengthen his heart to do His service, and to prevail over his yetzer ra, just as the hero makes every endeavor to prevail over his enemy, subdues him, and throws him down to the ground. (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Laws Relating to the Conduct Upon Rising in the Morning)

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Transliteration / Translation:

Pirkei Avot - Ethics of the Fathers (literally "Chapters of the Fathers"), a section of the Mishnah.

B"H - Baruch Hashem - Blessed be/is His Name

yetzer ra / - evil inclination

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