HACHAYOL - MyShliach

Pirkei Avos
is Middas
Chassidus:
the way of
Chassidim
W
hat is a Chosid anyway In the Gemara it says that a
Chossid goes לפנים משורת הדין —beyond the letter of the
law. That’s right, not just what’s written in Shulchan
Aruch but way beyond that. When a chosid does a mitzvah—when a
chosid davens, lights Chanukah candles, or does a favor for another—
he does it because that is what, who and why he is. And when you do
something because it’s what, who and why you are, you do it in the
best, most beautiful, most complete and most absolute way. You do it
perfectly; you do it more than perfectly. Pirkei Avos was really written
for us—to teach us how to be Chassidim! Read the following stories and
see how Pirkei Avos really applies to our personal lives.
Are you ready for the banquet
“Rabbi Eliezer said, ‘A person should do Teshuva one day before he
passes away.’” (Avos 2:10)
Aperson has to do
Teshuva the day
before his death,
since we can’t be sure when that will
be, we have to do Teshuva every day.
R’ Yochanan Ben Zakkai explained this
with a story:
One time a King told all the people in his
palace that he was making a party, he did
not however specify when it would be.
Some servants decided to wait, and when
the king starts to prepare, they’ll notice and
get ready. Others decided that it may be at
any moment, and they decided to get
dressed and ready right now.
A while later, the king ordered everyone
into the hall immediately for the party!
The wise men were dressed and ready,
while the foolish ones came in with
their dirty clothing.
The king was upset with the
foolish servants, demanding “Why
didn’t you get ready right away
Now you will sit outside and watch
the others eat, your embarrassment
will be your reward.”
Rabbi Yochanan explained, “Prepare
to face Hashem at any moment
by doing Teshuva and the mitzvos
each day. Then you will accepted
into Hashem’s palace with respect,
and you will enjoy the pleasures of his
‘Banquet.”
This story has a special meaning for us.
The time for Geula has arrived and we must
prepare ourselves for Moshiach, who is arriving
at any minute. We must put on our best
“Shabbos clothes;” good deeds, good words,
and good thoughts, so that we will be
“properly dressed” for the great banquet that
will take place when Moshiach comes.
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The Gift
Rabbi Akiva says; “Everything is given on loan, and the net is spread for the living. The store is open,
and the storekeeper is watching. The notebook is open, and the hand writes. Whoever wishes to take
out a loan, can come and take out a loan. And the collectors come round every day, to take back what
is owing whether a person knows it or not.” (Avos 3:16)
There was a poor man who worked very hard,
but he barely had enough to support his family.
One time when he was working, an Arab came up to
him and told him, “Hashem wants to bless you with
Wealth for six years, do you want it now or later”
The man asked his wife, and his wife said to ask
for it now. The man told the Arab, and a few
moments later, the mans children came running
into the house! “Mother, Mother, look what we
found!” a box with enough money to support the
family with many years.
The man asked his wife what to do with the
money, and his wife said: “it’s not for us, we will
use simply what we need, and give the rest for
Chairty.” Each day, she would write down exactly
how much she gave to Tzedaka. Six years later the
arab came back ,and said it’s time to return the
money, the man showed Eliyahu Hanavi the
notebook, and Eliyahu said, “You have used it well,
You will not take away the money, but will be
blessed with much more.”
And that’s what happened.