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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. 12 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.
Competition Rabbi Elazar HaKappar said: “Envy, lust, and the pursuit of honor drive a man from the world.” (Avos 4:21) Competition! How would you feel if you had a business and someone opened up the same one right near yours When I heard someone was doing that to me, I couldn’t believe it. I let him know that I was already established in town, but he didn’t care! My wife said never to mind. But I couldn’t get it off my mind. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. And if I did doze off, I would only dream that newcomer was taking away my customers! With all this on my mind, my work began to suffer. I couldn’t concentrate. Some mornings l could hardly get out of bed. “He is ruining me!” I called to my wife. “Go to Premishlan,” she said. “Speak to Reb Meir. Ask him what to do!” I thought that surely when Reb Meir heard my story, he would tell the newcomer to leave town. Instead he asked me, “Did you travel here with a horse” “Yes, I replied”. “And perhaps you also passed a river .” “Of course,” I replied. “What the horses did when they went to the river to drink” I tried to think what Reb Meir meant by these strange questions. “He strikes the water with his hoof,” I replied. “Exactly!” said Reb Meir. “And that is because when the horse goes to drink, he looks down into the water, and sees his reflection. He thinks it is another horse also coming to drink! He thinks there is not enough water in the river for both horses so he strikes the water to make this other horse go away! “But you, my friend, know that there is plenty of water in the river for all the horses to drink! And you also know that on Rosh Hashana, Hashem decrees how much money everyone will earn in the year ahead, so that it is impossible for anyone to take away what is coming to another! Don’t worry. There is enough business for both of you.” So I returned home, and resolved at least to test out what Reb Meir had to say. My competitor, I believe, is doing very well! And as for myself, I honestly cannot say that I am doing any worse, not that I can understand it… Souls in the Marketplace “Prepare yourself in the waiting room so that you may enter the palace.” (Avos 4:16) One day, as Rav Broka was passing through the marketplace, he wondered, “Who really gets to go to Gan Eden” Suddenly an old man appeared by his side, “Sholom Aleichem, Rebbi. Would you like to know who is a ben Olam Haba’a” Rav Broka was astonished. “Yes, I would,” he said respectfully, for he understood that the old man was really Eliyahu HaNovi. “Such a man is standing over there tying his sandals.” This was very surprising. Rav Broka was curious. “Hello,” he said when no one was around, “tell me, please, who are you What do you do” “I am a Jew,” the man replied. “I work as a guard at the prison. Unfortunately, Jews are often thrown in jail there, both men and women. I do everything I can to help them. If I ever hear that the non-Jews plan to harm them, I do everything, even risking my life, to save them! And I have rescued many!” “That is amazing,” Rav Broka said. “But tell me, if you are a Jew, why don’t you wear traditional Jewish clothing “If people knew I was Jewish, I could not save so many lives. The non-Jews consider me as one of them. They speak openly in front of me. That’s how I learn their plans and am able to save others.” Rav Broka was astounded. Here was a person who risked his life every day to save others, and nobody would ever guess. Rav Broka had learned a great lesson. You cannot judge a person by his outward appearance. 13
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