(ב) בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי רָץ לְמִצְוָה קַלָּה כְבַחֲמוּרָה, וּבוֹרֵחַ מִן הָעֲבֵרָה. שֶׁמִּצְוָה גּוֹרֶרֶת מִצְוָה, וַעֲבֵרָה גוֹרֶרֶת עֲבֵרָה. שֶׁשְּׂכַר מִצְוָה, מִצְוָה. וּשְׂכַר עֲבֵרָה, עֲבֵרָה:
(2) Ben Azzai said: Be quick in performing a minor commandment as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
Questions for conversation
Textual analysis
1. What part of the Mishnah interests you? Anything that you find strange? What do you agree or disagree with?
2.What questions do you have about this Mishnah? How would you answer these questions when learning on your own?
3. What does it mean to flee from a transgression? Have you ever experienced something like this in your own life? Do you want to share the story with the small group? Can you think of a general or theoretical example of “Fleeing from a transgression” ?
4. What does “the reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah mean? Have you ever experienced something like this in your own life? Do you want to share the story with the small group? Can you think of a general or theoretical example of “A mitzvah being rewarded with a mitzvah” ?
Parallel texts in the Jewish tradition
5. Do you know of any parallel texts in Pirkei Avot related to this Mishnah? Can you think of any parallel sources in any Jewish texts?
Zenos Logos
6. Can you think of any sources (Songs,texts,movies) that are not Jewish related to this mishnah? They can agree or disagree.
The Art of Torah
7. Can you draw a picture of this Mishnah? Can you find an object in your home that personifies or represent this mishnah for you ? (in part or whole)
(יא) רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר, הָעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה אַחַת, קוֹנֶה לוֹ פְרַקְלִיט אֶחָד. וְהָעוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה אַחַת, קוֹנֶה לוֹ קַטֵּגוֹר אֶחָד. תְּשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, כִּתְרִיס בִּפְנֵי הַפֻּרְעָנוּת. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הַסַּנְדְּלָר אוֹמֵר, כָּל כְּנֵסִיָּה שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם. וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, אֵין סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם:
(11) Rabbi Eliezer son of Yaakov says: One who does a single good deed acquires a single defender. One who does a single sin acquires a single prosecutor. Repentance and good deeds are a shield against punishment. Rabbi Yochanan the shoemaker said: Every gathering that is for the sake of Heaven will endure. And every gathering that isn't for the sake of Heaven will not endure, in the end.
Questions for conversation
Textual analysis
1. What part of the Mishnah interests you? Anything that you find strange? What do you agree or disagree with? Can you relate to any part of the Mishnah in your own life?
2.What questions do you have about this Mishnah? How would you answer these questions when learning on your own?
3. What does it mean “a single good deed acquires a single defender” ? Do you think this way in your day to day life? What does this thought experiment hope to accomplish?
4. What is a “Gathering for the sake of heaven” ? Have you ever experienced something like this in your own life? Do you want to share the story with the small group? What about the opposite? Can you give examples?
Parallel texts in the Jewish tradition
5. Do you know of any parallel texts in Pirkei Avot related to this Mishnah? Can you think of any parallel sources in any Jewish texts?
Zenos Logos
6. Can you think of any sources (Songs,texts,movies) that are not Jewish related to this mishnah? They can agree or disagree.
The Art of Torah
7. Can you draw a picture of this Mishnah? Can you find an object in your home that personifies or represent this mishnah for you ? (in part or whole)
PART 2. STOP HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
(כא) רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַקַּפָּר אוֹמֵר, הַקִּנְאָה וְהַתַּאֲוָה וְהַכָּבוֹד, מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הָאָדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם:
(21) Rabbi Elazar Ha-kappar said: envy, lust and [the desire for] honor put a person out of the world.
(ד) רַבִּי לְוִיטָס אִישׁ יַבְנֶה אוֹמֵר, מְאֹד מְאֹד הֱוֵי שְׁפַל רוּחַ, שֶׁתִּקְוַת אֱנוֹשׁ רִמָּה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן בְּרוֹקָא אוֹמֵר, כָּל הַמְחַלֵּל שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם בַּסֵּתֶר, נִפְרָעִין מִמֶּנּוּ בְגָלוּי. אֶחָד שׁוֹגֵג וְאֶחָד מֵזִיד בְּחִלּוּל הַשֵּׁם:
(4) Rabbi Levitas a man of Yavneh said: be exceeding humble spirit, for the end of man is the worm. Rabbi Yohanan ben Berokah said: whoever profanes the name of heaven in secret, he shall be punished in the open. Unwittingly or wittingly, it is all one in profaning the name.
1. What part of the Mishnah interests you? Anything that you find strange? What do you agree or disagree with? Can you relate to any part of the Mishnah in your own life?
2.What questions do you have about this Mishnah? How would you answer these questions when learning on your own?
3. What does it mean “to put someone out of this world” ? Do you think this way in your day to day life? What does this thought experiment hope to accomplish?
4. Do you see any connection between these two Mishnayos?
Parallel texts in the Jewish tradition
5. Do you know of any parallel texts in Pirkei Avot related to this Mishnah? Can you think of any parallel sources in any Jewish texts?
Zenos Logos
6. Can you think of any sources (Songs,texts,movies) that are not Jewish related to this mishnah? They can agree or disagree.
The Art of Torah
7. Can you draw a picture of this Mishnah? Can you find an object in your home that personifies or represent this mishnah for you ? (in part or whole)
(כב) הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, הַיִּלּוֹדִים לָמוּת, וְהַמֵּתִים לְהֵחָיוֹת, וְהַחַיִּים לִדּוֹן. לֵידַע לְהוֹדִיעַ וּלְהִוָּדַע שֶׁהוּא אֵל, הוּא הַיּוֹצֵר, הוּא הַבּוֹרֵא, הוּא הַמֵּבִין, הוּא הַדַּיָּן, הוּא עֵד, הוּא בַעַל דִּין, וְהוּא עָתִיד לָדוּן.
בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁאֵין לְפָנָיו לֹא עַוְלָה, וְלֹא שִׁכְחָה, וְלֹא מַשּׂוֹא פָנִים, וְלֹא מִקַּח שֹׁחַד, שֶׁהַכֹּל שֶׁלּוֹ. וְדַע שֶׁהַכֹּל לְפִי הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן. וְאַל יַבְטִיחֲךָ יִצְרְךָ שֶׁהַשְּׁאוֹל בֵּית מָנוֹס לְךָ, שֶׁעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אַתָּה נוֹצָר, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אַתָּה נוֹלָד, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אַתָּה חַי, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אַתָּה מֵת, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אַתָּה עָתִיד לִתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
(22) He used to say: the ones who were born are to die, and the ones who have died are to be brought to life, and the ones brought to life are to be judged; So that one may know, make known and have the knowledge that He is God, He is the designer, He is the creator, He is the discerner, He is the judge, He the witness, He the complainant, and that He will summon to judgment.
Blessed be He, before Whom there is no iniquity, nor forgetting, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes, for all is His. And know that all is according to the reckoning. And let not your impulse assure thee that the grave is a place of refuge for you; for against your will were you formed, against your will were you born, against your will you live, against your will you will die, and against your will you will give an account and reckoning before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
Questions for conversations
Textual analysis
1. What part of the Mishnah interests you? Anything that you find strange? What do you agree or disagree with? Can you relate to any part of the Mishnah in your own life?
2.What questions do you have about this Mishnah? How would you answer these questions when learning on your own?
3. What does it mean “no respect of persons” ?
4. Do you see any connection between these two Mishnayos? Between any of the Mishnayos we looked at tonight?
Parallel texts in the Jewish tradition
5. Do you know of any parallel texts in Pirkei Avot related to this Mishnah? Can you think of any parallel sources in any Jewish texts?
Zenos Logos
6. Can you think of any sources (Songs,texts,movies) that are not Jewish related to this mishnah? They can agree or disagree.
The Art of Torah
7. Can you draw a picture of this Mishnah? Can you find an object in your home that personifies or represent this mishnah for you ? (in part or whole)