Monday, April 22, 2013

CLD #871

Many Rabbis during this time period of Sefirat Ha'Omer hold to discuss the seriousness behind engaging in respectful behavior between man and his fellow because the students of the great Rabi Akiva lacked respect for one another. What is the main work of study that our Rabbis lean on during this time period? Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, because not only does it hold the Jewish approach of respect for one another, but it is also divine!

Therefore theCLD today will discuss the Mishnah written in Perek Gimel (3rd Chapter, Mishnah 17) that explains the “commodities” of the Torah. Rabi Elazar ben Azaria says  If there is no Torah, there is no Derech Eretz, if there is no Derech Eretz ‘there is no Torah.’ If there is knowledge, there is no Fear [of Heaven], if there is no Fear [of Heaven] there is no knowledge. On this half of the Mishnah one could learn from for days. However, we will just come to break down the meaning behind this great Tannah’s (Sage’s) words.

Rabi Elazar ben Azaria explains that if an individual does not learn Torah, even though he might look like a gentleman filled with good behavior and attitude, in reality HE HAS NO MANNERS! On the other hand even if an individual learns Torah, but he has no manners, his Torah has no support system. The way an individual learns goes hand in hand with the way an individual behaves. This Mishnah comes to teach us the obviousness behind an individual’s obligation to learn Torah! Just like its obvious an individual must behave in with the utmost respect to his fellow, so too he must learn Torah!

Besides that, Rabi Elazar ben Azariah adds that an individual must gain knowledge in order to see how small he is in front of Hashem and this knowledge will cause him to greaten his Fear of Heaven. He also discusses how an individual’s amount of knowledge is based on the amount of fear he has. Why? Because if an individual does not know the A-B-C’s of this world, meaning that Hashem is in control of the world and is The Leader, The King, The Master, then obviously he has no knowledge and no Fear of Heaven!

Be’ezrat Hashem may we always strive to be examples for all the people around us as the person who has the most Fear of Heaven!

Judaism=Think.

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