When we come to this Big City, the temptations are many. So G-d gave us a great Torah and many precepts. ‘We are kept busy buying the best merchandise — the Torah and Mitzvos. Not only will our life be a full one, a happy one, and a worthy one, but the Torah that we learn and the precepts that we do make us worthy, pure and holy.
Dear Reader sh’yichyeh
At the conclusion of each chapter of Pirkei Avos, we say: “Rabbi Chananya ben (son of) Akashya says: The Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to give Israel merit; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvos (commandments) in abundance, as it is written: ‘G-d wanted, for its [Israel’s] righteousness, to make the Torah great and mighty.’”
This maxim of R’ Chananya is not a part of Pirkei Avos. It is the final Mishna of Tractate Makos, a section of the Mishna which deals with a number of topics of civil law. There is, however, a universal practice to recite this Mishna at the conclusion of any Torah study session held in a synagogue. The reason for this is that it is common to recite the “Rabbis’ Kaddish” at the conclusion of a study session, and this Kaddish may only be recited after the study of Scriptural verses or of Midrash. Since many areas of study do not involve such topics, it became customary to recite this Mishna at the conclusion of any study session. Although Pirkei Avos itself is a Midrashic work, this custom is maintained here as well.
In the classic “Talks and Tales” series the following insight is related:
At first glance, it seems that Rabbi Chananya tells us that because G-d favored us and was pleased with us, He gave us a Torah without end and many duties or precepts to perform. Would it not have been easier and better for us if we had a small Torah and but a few duties?
The true wisdom of Rabbi Chananya will be understood with the help of the following story:
Once upon a time there lived a young man who had no experience in business. For some time after his marriage he was supported by his father-in-law, so that he could continue studying. But then came the day when the father-in-law said to him: “My boy, it is time you went out into the big world and found your own way in life. Here, take this sizable sum of money. Go to the Big City where you can buy and bring back fine merchandise, and make a nice profit. By the way, I have a good friend there, and you will do well to listen to his advice.”
The young man took the money and made his way to the Big City. After finding himself a room in a Hotel, he went to look up the old friend of the family. The young man told him about the purpose of his coming to the Big City, and how much money he had, promising to do everything the old friend would advise him to do.
“Leave it to me,” the old friend said, and the young man left him and went back to his hotel. Immediately, the old friend went from one factory to another, selected the finest merchandise and ordered it for the young man’s account.
In the meantime, the young man returned to his hotel and was thinking how best to spend his time. But the next moment bills and invoices began to pour in from various manufacturers. There was a lot to do: to check the bills, inspect the merchandise, watch the packing, and so on. Every day, during his entire stay in the Big City, the young man was kept so busy that he had no time to think of anything else. Then he realized that he had spent all his money, and had bought as much merchandise as he could. He went to the old friend to thank him for his help and to bid him good-bye.
“But you kept me so busy,” the young man complained laughingly, “that I hardly had a chance to have a good time.”
“My dear young man,” the wise old friend replied. “You ought to be very grateful to me for having kept you busy doing such good business. I have seen other young men come to this Big City on business. But they soon forget what they came for and get busy having ‘a good time.’ Before they look around, they find their money spent on nothing, and when it is time to go back, they go back empty-handed and in shame. You, on the other hand, will come back loaded with fine merchandise, and your future will be assured.”
This is what Rabbi Chananya had in mind. G-d wanted us to be worthy. When we come to this Big City, the temptations are many. So G-d gave us a great Torah and many precepts. ‘We are kept busy buying the best merchandise — the Torah and Mitzvos. Not only will our life be a full one, a happy one, and a worthy one, but the Torah that we learn and the precepts that we do make us worthy, pure and holy. We thank G-d for the Torah and Mitzvos; they are not a burden. They are the greatest gift that G-d gave us; they show us how much He really loves us.
Chassidus explains this saying of Rabbi Chananya on a deeper level: “L’zakos es Yisroel,” translated as “to make meritorious,” also means “to refine.” The goal of the Torah and mitzvos is to refine the Jewish people. This intention is manifest in Pirkei Avos, which teaches us to lift our ethical conduct above the limits of human wisdom and cultivate it according to G-d’s desire.
Refining the Jewish people and the world is the crux of bringing Moshiach: Hashem wanted to enable the Jewish people to speedily merit the coming of Moshiach, so he gave them many physical mitzvos to do. Every physical mitzva brings K’dusha into this physical world. Hence, the more Mitzvos done, the quicker the world is elevated, the quicker Moshiach can come.
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.