Sunday, December 21, 2014

Pirkei Avot 2:10-2:13

"Rabban Yochanan be Zakkai had five [primary] disciples.  They were: Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanos, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chanania, Rabbi Yose the Kohen, Rabbi Shimon ben Nesanel, and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach.

"He used to enumerate their praises: Rabbi Elizer ben Hyrcanos is like a cemented cistern that loses not a drop; Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chanania, praiseworthy is she who bore him; Rabbi Yose the Kohen is a scrupulously pious person; Rabbi Shimon ben Nesanel fears sin; and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach is like a spring flowing stronger and stronger.

"He used to say: If all the sages of Israel were on one pan of a balance-scale, and Eliezer ben Hyrcanos were on the other, he would outweigh them all.  Abba Shaul said in his name: If all the sages of Israel, with even Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanos among them, were on one pan of the balance-scale, and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach were on the other, he would outweigh them all.

"He said to them: Go out and discern which is the proper way to which a man should cling.  Rabbi Eliezer says: A good eye.  Rabbi Yehoshua says: A good friend.  Rabbi Yose says: A good neighbor.  Rabbi Shimon says: One who considers the outcome of a deed.  Rabbi Elazar says: A good heart.  He [Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai] said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach for your words, for your words are included in his words."

These pirkei must be read together because they build toward a comparison of virtues.  A good eye enables the possessor to see the good in others.  A good friend is a source of solace and refinement of judgment.  A good neighbor is a source of solace and refinement of judgement that is nearby.  Considering the outcome of a deed enables one to judge the rightness of one's deeds.  A good heart is the aspiration to goodness itself, and therefore includes the others.  One cannot see good in others, derive good from a friend or a neighbor or judge an outcome of a deed unless one has the aspiration to goodness itself.


No comments:

Post a Comment