RaYBaSH’s Ponderings Perkei Avot
Chapter 5:20-21
By Yehudah ben Shomeyr
“Any dispute that
is for the sake of Heaven is destined to endure; one that is not for the sake
of Heaven is not destined to endure. Which is a dispute that is for the sake of
Heaven? The dispute(s) between Hillel and Shamai. Which is a dispute that is not for the sake
of Heaven? The dispute of Korach and all his company.”
Rav Sha’ul said in 1Cor. 10:31 :
“ Whether therefore ye eat, or
drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Isa. 55:11 So shall my word be that
goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I
sent it.
Korach wanted
power, his dispute was not for the sake of heaven, it was for the sake of
Korach.
“One who causes
the community to be meritorious, no sin will come by his hand. One who causes
the community to sin, is not given the opportunity to repent. Moses was
meritorious and caused the community to be meritorious, so the community's
merit is attributed to him; as is stated, "He did God's righteousness, and
His laws with Israel" (Deuteronomy 33:21). Jeroboam the son of Nebat sinned
and caused the community to sin, so the community's sin is attributed to him;
as is stated, "For the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and caused Israel
to sin" (I Kings 15:30).”
This is a classic
example and principle that as goes the leadership, so goes the people. Every
time a King perused Torah, the people did as well, when the King perused Idols,
the people followed suite. You may not be a king, but you may be a spouse,
parent, boss, or some kind of leader. People may even look up to you whom you
wouldn’t have a clue that they did. This is why it’s so important to be a
beacon of Light or Torah and Messiah. God forbid that someone falls on account
of your example.
Shalom,
-- Yehudah ben
Shomeyr
