RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot
Chapter 3:23
By: Yehudah ben Shomeyr
“Rabbi Eliezer [the son of] Chisma would say: the laws of kinin
and the laws of menstrual periods---these, these are the meat of Halachah (Torah law). The calculations of
solar seasons and gematria are the
condiments of wisdom.”
“The laws of
bird-offerings (see Lev. 12:8), and the laws regarding the beginning of
menstrual periods. These are areas of study which may appear to be an unworthy
or unattractive subject for the true scholar. The Mishnah therefore emphasizes
that no study of Torah law is to be taken lightly – such laws are essential.
Similarly, other pursuits such as astronomy, mathematics – or according to
some, the mystical study numerical values of Hebrew letters – are ‘seasonings
of wisdom.’ These disciplines should be studied only after one has ‘filled his
stomach’ with the study of Torah…” – Art Scroll’s commentary of the Perkei
Avot.
It’s like you have
to eat your vegetables before you can have dessert. Dessert doesn’t mean as
much or isn’t as good without the hearty meal before hand.
Also, if one
studies these ‘icing on the cake’ type of subjects without first a working,
grounded knowledge of the essentials, first you will not understand these
things and may come off with incorrect or dangerous doctrine from it.
Shalom,
-- Yehudah ben
Shomyer
