Pirkei Avot/Ethics of our sages suggests that the world stands upon three things. It teaches it twice each time with a different list?!
This week's song is in memory of Paul Rosenblum.
Michael (MichaelStrassfeld.com)
A word of Torah:
It is a tradition to study Pirkei Avot/The ethics of the sages during the Omer period. Its pithy sayings about Torah and ethics make it a good preparation for Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah at Sinai.
The first chapter begins and ends with parallel statements. Shimon The Tzaddik said: The world rests on three things: On Torah, on avodah/worship, and on gemilut hesed/deeds of loving kindness (in paragraph 2). Avodah is usually understood to refer to prayer. Gemilut hesed describes acting in a loving way to help those in need. This oft quoted teaching suggests that these three behaviors are essential to living a life imbued with Jewish values and practices.
However, at the end of that same chapter, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel teaches: The world rests on three things: On justice/din, on truth/emet, and on peace/shalom.
It is possible, as often happens in the Talmud, that each of these Shimons has a different view of the three most important things in Judaism. But perhaps these teachings are related. The first three are the building blocks of Jewish life. Torah is to be studied and helps guide our lives. Avodah is not specifically about praying, but about cultivating a spiritual awareness of existence, helping us realize that there is something larger than ourselves in the world. There is a dimension in the universe beyond what we can see or touch. It contains the idea that every person is created in the image of God. Finally, Torah and avodah as awareness should lead to acting in caring ways toward other people. Judaism lives in the daily interactions with other people, not in isolation.
The second group of three can be understood as the outcome of living a life enriched by the first three. As God says in Gen. 18:19: derekh Adonai, the way of God is tzedakah and mishpat. Justice or din is meant to be the result of living a life of Torah—both justice in how you treat others and how we create a more just society for everyone. The awareness of avodah leads to a sense that we are mortal and yet powerful, that we are imperfect and yet can change. Finally, lovingkindness is the only way we can get to a sense of peace/Shalom—a place where people feel cared about, included and respected.
As we approach Mt. Sinai once again, we need to ask ourselves: does our personal Torah and communal Torah begin with Torah, avodah and gemilut hesed and lead toward more justice/din, more truth/emet and most of all more shalom.
Intention/kavana for the week
A central teaching of Hasidism is that holiness can be found everywhere. Everything you do has that potential. It is not just the 613 commandments, but all we do. This week's song and readings are on this theme. This can be another intention in preparation for receiving the Torah again on Shavuot.
Song:
Be-khol derakhekha da'ehu,
ki l'olam hasdo
In all your ways, know God; for God's love is everlasting.
Prv. 3:6; Ps. 136
