Ponderings of the Perkei Avot 4:23-24

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot

Chapter 4:23-24

By Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“Rabbi Shimon the son of Elazar would say: Do not appease your friend at the height of his anger; do not comfort him while his dead still lies before him; do not ask him about his vow the moment he makes it; and do not endeavor to see him at the time of his degradation.

Samuel the Small would say: "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice; when he stumbles, let your heart not be gladdened. Lest God see, and it will displeasing in His eyes, and He will turn His wrath from him [to you]" (Proverbs 24:17-18).”

Tact is one of the greatest allies you can have in life for dealing with family, friends and enemies. Do not be self righteous and spout off Torah when one falls, but place yourself in the others shoes and ask yourself how would you want to be approached? Just being there in silence is enough to comfort a mourner. Helping another while keeping their dignity in tact is one of the greatest things you can do to show love to another. We can be glad and rejoice that an enemy has not overcome us, but we are to pity an enemy when he falls, this is also an act of great love, for God is no respecter of person and He loves your enemy just as much as He loves you. So we too, as imitators of God as dear children (Eph. 5:1) we too ought to show love and compassion towards our enemies. 

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot Thoughts 4:22

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot Thoughts

Chapter 4:22

By Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“He would also say: A single moment of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come. And a single moment of bliss in the World to Come is greater than all of the present world.”

Psalm 84:10 For a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

“The Mishnah deals with two different concepts. Only in This World can one elevate himself spiritually; in the World to Come he can only enjoy the reward for his accomplishments here. On the other hand, all the bliss of all the generations in the history of the world cannot equal an hour of bliss in the World to Come.” – Perkei Avot Art Scroll Commentary

Isa. 64:4 For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

1Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

As the saying goes, “The best is yet to come.”

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot 4:20-21

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot

Chapter 4:20-21

By Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“Rabbi Matya the son of Charash would say: Be first to greet every man. Be a tail to lions, rather than a head to foxes.
Rabbi Yaakov would say: This world is comparable to the antechamber before the World to Come. Prepare yourself in the antechamber, so that you may enter the banquet hall.”

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Not only for the reason stated in the above verse, but also to recognize that every human being is somehow connected to each other and that whether we like it or not we are all one big Mischpocha (Family) and by greeting everyone you see, even stranger and the so called “undesirables” you recognize that fact and instantly give that person value and worth and a healthy shot of self esteem.

Prov. 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.

Something as small as a smile, a tip of the hat, a simple, “hello” can go a long way. When you bless someone like that in turn you may be blessed by them when you really need it. Just pulling a scenario out of my head; but lets say your car breaks down and your without a cell phone, a stranger you may greet everyday may see you and say, “Hey, there’s that nice guy who always says ‘hello’ to me, I’m going to stop and help him.”

In this way you become a leader of sorts in promoting peace and kindness to all. This small positive act you do can be contagious in a good way.

Regarding verse 21, all we do here prepares us for eternity, the world to come.

“This world is like the eve of Sabbath, and the World to Come is like Sabbath. He who prepares on the eve of the Sabbath will have food to eat on the Sabbath.” – Talmud, Avodah, Zarah 3a)

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot 4:19

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot

Chapter 4:19

By Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“Rabbi Yannai said: It is not in our power to explain either the 

tranquility of the wicked or the suffering of the righteous.”

Nonetheless Rabbi’s and Sages have attempted it.

However, I think the point Rabbi Yannai was trying to make 

is that no matter what explanation or reasoning we come up 

with it will fall short and seem unfair because we are finite and 

God is infinite and who are we to try and comprehend the ways 

of an Infinite God?

However to those who struggle over this issue I will give some classic 

reasons of the Rabbi’s and Sages.

1.    God is being merciful to the wicked knowing they will have and 

eternity to suffer and hoping His goodness upon them will soften 

their heart and realize it is God’s doing and turn to Him. In the same 

token the righteous will be rewarded and at rest for all eternity so 

a little bit of suffering down here is really insignificant in the 

whole scheme of things. In some way suffering builds character 

and brings us closer to God. It has also been suggested that the 

suffering of the righteous somehow atones for the wicked.

2.    Kabbalah suggests that time is an illusion and therefore 

reward and punishment doesn’t come when we think it should. 

So a prosperous wicked person may actually be rewarded in 

the present for a good deed done years ago. And a righteous 

person may be suffering some “injustice” on account of a sin 

committed in the forgotten past.

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot Chapter 4:18

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot

Chapter 4:18

By: Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“Rabbi Nehora'i would say: Exile yourself to a place of Torah; 

do not say that it will come after you, that your colleagues will help 

you retain it. Rely not on your own understanding.”

Another passage says that it is so important to have a fixed time to study Torah, 

you have to make time. You can’t excuse your self and say, 

“when I have time I will study”, for then you may never have it.

You schedule appointments with VIP’s and nothing can alter that time. 

How much more so in regards to the Torah? Not only set a time and keep it, 

but Exile yourself. Lock the door and throw away the key until you have served 

your allotted time daily with the Torah. Exile yourself from all distractions 

and interruptions, just as you would if you were entertaining and important client. 

Our focus text not only tells us to study Torah but to study it with friends. 

If you are in a place with no friends then get commentaries. 

Rashi and the Rambam are sometimes called a Torah students best friends.

It’s so important to have other opinions and interpretations to consider and 

someone to bounce your own thoughts off of. Not only to expand your 

knowledge but to keep your thought from going way off track, way into 

left field in regards to your interpretation.

Notice that Israel has never been closer to God but in exile. 

Notice that Prophets have received their most powerful revelation 

while in exile. So exile is not always a bad thing,

especially when we exile ourselves with Torah as our

companion.

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot 4:17

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot

Chapter 4:17

By: Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“Rabbi Shimon would say: There are three crowns--the crown of Torah, 

the crown of priesthood and the crown of sovereignty

--but the crown of good name surmounts them all.”

Pro 22:1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving 

favour rather than silver and gold.

Now who holds and wears all these crowns? Yeshua Ha Moshiach, 

after all He is the Living Torah, Prophet, and 

Priest after the order of Melchezidek, and is the Sovereign King.

But ultimately to have a good name ones deeds, ones heart in action, 

must outstrip so to speak his head, his knowledge. 

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Ponderings of the Perkei Avot Chapter 4:16

RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Perkei Avot

Chapter 4:16

By: Yehudah ben Shomeyr

“Rabbi Yehudah said: Be meticulous in study, for a careless 

misinterpretation is considered tantamount to willful transgression."

No one likes being lied to whether by commission or omission and no one 

likes to be mislead whether intentionally or unintentionally. 

In so doing one could get seriously hurt by their actions taken in 

ignorance and yet on the supposed good word of someone.

I have been in situations where this has happened to me and I have also 

been on the other end where I would have to publicly correct something 

I have previously taught. We are all connected my actions effect you and 

visa versa.

“A misinterpretation is judged so harshly only if it was due to the 

student’s failure to apply himself according to his capacity. 

A sincere mistake is regarded as an unintentional error.” 

– Perkei Avot Commentary

The Scriptures tell us that a teacher is held more accountable:

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive 

the greater condemnation. 

Messiah warns us of being blind and teaching:

Matt. 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. 

And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Shalom,

-- Yehudah ben Shomeyr