RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot
Chapter 5:9-12
By Yehudah ben Shomeyr
“There are seven things that
characterize a boor, and seven that characterize a wise man. A wise man does
not speak before one who is greater than him in wisdom or age. He does not
interrupt his fellow's words. He does not hasten to answer. His questions are
on the subject and his answers to the point. He responds to first things first
and to latter things later. Concerning what he did not hear, he says "I
did not hear." He concedes to the truth. With the boor, the reverse of all
these is the case. Seven types of retribution come to the world, for seven
types of sin. When some tithe and others don't, a hunger caused by turmoil
ensues: some are hungry, others have their fill of food. When all are unanimous
in their failure to tithe, a hunger by drought ensues. For not separating chalah, an annihilating hunger results.
Plagues come to the world for those capital crimes mentioned in the Torah that have not been given over to the court, and
for desecrating the produce of the sabbatical year. The sword comes to the
world for the procrastination of justice, the corruption of justice, and
because of those who misinterpret the Torah. Carnage by wild beasts comes to
the world for false oaths and the desecration of God's name. Exile comes to the
world for idol-worship, sexual promiscuity, murder and the failure to leave the
land fallow on the sabbatical year. There are four time-periods when plagues
increase: on the fourth and seventh years [of the sabbatical cycle], on the
year following the seventh, and following the festivals of each year. On the
fourth year, because of [the neglect of] the tithe to the poor that must be
given on the third year; on the seventh, because of the tithe to the poor that
must be given on the sixth; on the year after the seventh, because of the
produce of the sabbatical year; and following each festival, because of the
robbing of the poor of the gifts due to them.”
This
passage is pretty much on target and self explanatory, but here are some
Scripture verses to back up what has been said.
Prov. 25:6-7 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,
and stand not in the place of great [men for better [it is] that it be said
unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the
presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
James 1:19 {This} you know, my
beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak {and} slow
to anger;
Prov. 15:1 A gentle
answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
And we’ve all heard the old adage
that we should think before we speak or that we should engage our brain before
our mouth.
No matter if you’re a lay person
or a Rabbi, you will be praised for your honesty if you just admit to what you
don’t know instead of trying to fake your way through and answer. The truth is
what is most important here, not status.
Prov. 17:28 Even a
fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is
{considered} prudent.
What follows is an interesting
commentary regarding sin, a tit for tat, a “punishment to fit the crime”
consequences.
Most of this we can confirm is
true for it is found in Deuteronomy 27-28, regarding the blessings and cursing
for obedience and disobedience to the Torah.
Shalom,
-- Yehudah ben
Shomeyr
