Daf 24
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THE NUMBER OF MITZVOS TO FOCUS ON
(a) David gave 11 Mitzvos for people to focus on (Ramah - through these, Hash-m will help them guard all the Mitzvos; others explain, these have exceedingly great reward) - "... Holech Tamim..."
1. Avraham exemplified "Holech Tamim" - "His'halech Lefanai v'Hye Samim";
2. Aba Chilkiya illustrates "u'Fo'el Tzedek" (he would not even answer 'Shalom' while working);
3. Rav Safra illustrates "v'Dover Emes bi'Lvavo" (he was offered a certain price for something, and intended to accept. Before he was able to speak, he was offered more. Nevertheless, he sold it for the price he mentally agreed to);
4. Yakov illustrates "Lo Ragal Al Leshono" - he was reluctant to deceive Yitzchak (to get the blessings), even though Rivka told him to do so based on a prophecy;
5. "Lo Asah l'Re'ehu Ra" - he did not adopt another's profession (where this would be unfair competition);
6. "V'Cherpah Lo Nasa Al Kerovo" - he draws his relatives close;
7. Chizkiyah illustrates "Nivzeh b'Einav Nim'as" - he dragged his father's bones on a bed of ropes (to atone for him). (Rashi (Sanhedrin) - Chizkiyah was lowly in his own eyes, and he was willing to disgrace himself; Rivan - Chizkiyah scorned even his father, because his father was disgraceful to Hash-m).
8. King Yehoshafat illustrates "'Es Yire'ei Hash-m Yechaved." When he would see a Chacham, he would rise from his throne, kiss him and say 'Avi Avi Rebbi... '
9. R. Yochanan illustrates "Nishba Lehara v'Lo Yamir" - he would accept to fast until he reached home (merely to evade eating with the Nasi. In any case, he kept his oath);
10. "Kaspo Lo Nasan b'Neshech" - he would not take interest from a Nochri (lest he come to take from a Yisrael);
11. R. Yishmael b'Rebbi Yosi illustrates "v'Shochad Al Naki Lo Lakach" (his sharecropper brought R. Yishmael's normal share a day early because he had to come for judgment. R. Yishmael refused to take it, and did not judge his case.)
(b) Raban Gamliel would cry when he read "Ose Eleh Lo Yimot l'Olam." One who does all these will not falter, but one who only does one will fall!
(c) Rabanan: It does not say 'Ose Kol Eleh', rather, "Ose Eleh." One who does even one will not falter!
(d) Support: It says "Al Titam'u b'Chol Aleh", but you cannot say that only one who transgresses all of the Arayos is corrupt!
1. Rather, one who transgresses any one of them is corrupt. Likewise, one who has any one of the above merits will live.
(e) Yeshayah gave six Mitzvos for people to focus on - "Holech Tzedakos..."
1. Avraham exemplified "Holech Tzedakos" - "Yetzaveh (Es Banav... La'asos Tzedakah u'Mishpat)";
2. "V'Dover Meisharim" - no one is pained by his words in public (Maharsha; Aruch l'Ner - if he must rebuke someone, he does so in private).
3. R. Yishmael ben Elisha illustrates "Mo'es b'Vetza Ma'ashakos" - (he was a Kohen, yet he refused to take Reishis ha'Gez (first shearings) from a party who came for judgment, for this would deprive the Kohen who normally received the man's gifts).
4. R. Yishmael b'Rebbi Yosi (brought above) illustrates "No'er Kapav mi'Tmoch ba'Shochad";
5. "Otem Azno mi'Shmo'a Damim" - if he hears a Chacham shamed, he is not silent;
i. (R. Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon was normally very careful about this. Once, he was not, and he was punished.)
6. (R. Chiya bar Aba): "V'Otzem Einav me'R'os b'Ra" - he shuts his eyes to avoid looking at women doing laundry (at the river, for they are barefoot);
7. It says about one who fulfills these "Hu Meromim Yishkon..."
(f) Michah gave three Mitzvos for people to focus on - "Asos Mishpat..."
1. "Asos Mishpat" is monetary laws;
2. "Ahavas Chesed" is bestowing Chesed;
3. "V'Hatzne'a Leches Im Elokecha" is escorting the dead and bringing a Kalah to Chupah;
i. Even though these are normally done in public, they should be done modestly. All the more so, things that are normally done covertly should be done modestly!
(g) Yeshayah later gave two primary Mitzvos - "Shimru Mishpat va'Asu Tzedakah."
(h) Amos gave one primary Mitzvah - "Dirshuni vi'Chyu."
(i) Objection (Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak): Perhaps Amos instructs to expound the entire Torah!
1. Rather, Chabakuk gave one primary Mitzvah - "v'Tzadik be'Emunaso Yichyeh."
EXILE AND REDEMPTION OF YISRAEL
(a) (R. Yosi b'Rebbi Chanina): Moshe made four enactments, and four Nevi'im annulled them:
1. Moshe said "v'Yishkon Yisrael Betach Badad Ein Yakov" (Rivan - Yisrael will be secure when they are Tzadikim like Yakov; Ramah - only the elite of Yakov will have serenity) but Amos said "Chadal Na Mi Yakum Yakov Ki Katan Hu (we cannot (all) be like Yakov, but still, we should have serenity);
i. "Nichem Hash-m Al Zos" (Hash-m agreed).
2. Moshe said "uva'Goyim ha'Hem Lo Sargi'a" (Yisrael will not rest in Galus), but Yeshayah said "Haloch Lehargi'a Yisrael."
3. Moshe said "Poked Avon Avos Al Banim", but Yechezkeil said "ha'Nefesh ha'Chotas Hi Samus."
4. Moshe said "va'Avadtem ba'Goyim" (Yisrael will be lost in exile), Yeshayah said "Yitaka b'Shofar u'Va'u ha'Ovdim..."
(b) (Rav): I fear "va'Avadtem ba'Goyim"!
(c) Objection (Rav Papa): Perhaps it means that Yisrael will be like a lost object that the owner is seeking - "Ta'isi k'Seh Oved Bakesh Avdecha"!
(d) Correction: Rather, Rav feared (the end of the verse) "v'Achlah Eschem Eretz Oyveichem."
(e) Objection (Mar Zutra): Perhaps Yisrael will be only partially consumed, like gourds (which are not totally eaten)!
(f) Raban Gamliel, R. Elazar ben Azaryah, R. Yehoshua and R. Akiva were walking. They heard the clamor of Romi from 120 Mil away. (The other) Chachamim cried, and R. Akiva laughed.
1. Chachamim: Why are you laughing?!
2. R. Akiva: Why are you crying?
3. Chachamim: They bow and bring incense to idols, yet they are serene. The footstool of Hash-m (the Mikdash) was burned. How can we not cry?!
4. R. Akiva: That is why I laugh. If Hash-m gives such reward to those who transgress His will, how much greater will be the reward of those who do His will!
Question:
Michah gives the three mitzvot of Ahavat Chesed, Asos Mishpat (monetary laws), and V'Hatzne'a Leches Im Elokecha (escorting the dead and bringing a Kalah to Chupah) for people to focus on. Why do you think Michah chose these specific mitzvot? What makes them unique and important from the other mitzvot?
Perhaps Michah was trying to help Bnei Yisrael focus on mitzvot that will ultimately encompass all 613. These three mitzvot encompass most aspects of a person's life, particularly in the way we are supposed to interact with others. We must be careful with our monetary laws-- we must be honest businessmen; even when we are making a living to support our family, we must do it the honest, Torah way. In addition to monetary laws which we must engage in, Michah is telling Bnei Yisrael to focus on being kind to others and doing chessed for them. Lastly, Hatznea Leches Im Elokecha is a way of life. Firstly, it refers to the cycle of life-- whether it be escorting a Kallah to her chuppah or escorting the dead, we are there for our fellow Jews in the ups and downs. In addition, the Gemara adds that these two specific mitzvot are usually done in public, and therefore we are told to do them modestly. This teaches us that any mitzvah we do, whether it be public or private should be done modestly. I think all in all, Michah was focusing on getting Bnei Yisrael to increase their ben adam l'chavero mitzvot, and these three categories ultimately encompass the other 613.
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ReplyDeleteThe main reason that in the Gemara, different neviim list certain mitzvot that we should focus on, is because with each successive generation, the nation's spirituality diminished. Therefore, the neviim try to focus on just a few mitzvot that will then bring the nation to observe more of the Torah.It seems very apropos, therefore, that Michah focuses on 1.doing jusice (acting morally), 2. to do chesed, 3. to walk humbly with Hashem (even with mitzvot that are usually performed publicly, like escorting the Kallah to her chuppah or escorting the dead.)Each of these mitzvot focus on our acting and behaving in a moral,upstanding way while maintaining humility. Maintaining humility is especially important because it shows that we are not doing mitvot to gain honor. The mitzvot are meant as a means for us to serve Hashem and better the world, not as a means for chasing our own honor. Michah is reminding us that to truly serve Hashem and fulfill His commandments, we must be good, moral people. Once we act in this way, hopefully we will be motivated to do more mitzvot and continue to walk in the ways of Hashem.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nina and Elisheva and would like to add that these three topics are very focused on bein adam lechavero and making each person a better person. Whether its loving chessed and becoming more giving, not cheating in business and becoming more honest, or helping out those throughout life cycles and becoming more selfless, I feel as though Michah was stressing the importance of being a good person and was highlighting the mitzvot that aid the personal growth in ones self.
ReplyDeleteI think that these three mitzvot are important because they represent a continuation of our lives in relation to Torah. Ahavat Chesed is something that takes place throughout our entire lives - we should constantly be giving to other people and helping them out. We are reminded that we should always be giving tzedakah and doing chesed - we need to continue to love chesed and do chesed our whole lives. Asos Mishpat is a mitzvah where we bring Torah more directly into our daily lives; money is something we think about very often, and so we have a mitzvah to be modest with this to remind us that our lives can only continue and we can only continue to make money if we follow the Torah and HaShem. The third mitzvah, V'Hatzne'a Leches Im Elokecha, symbolizes the circle of life -a wedding, the beginning of a family and life together, and escorting the dead, the end of life, yet beginning of the world to come. All of these mitzvot represent he continuation of life; within that continuation, we need to be reminded of the continuation of Torah.
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