Thursday Minyan and Pirkei Avot Class
Following Minyan on Thursday (following silent meditation at 7:30, and Minyan at 7:45), at 8:30, we continue our study of the Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of our Fathers.
If you wish to join us by ZOOM, here is the link
Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/6489793234?pwd=SmdLZkNMQnIvaThUOW9MTFZOMjhkZz09&omn=82824795169
Meeting ID: 648 979 3234
Passcode: 187502
We begin about 8:30 am, with a view towards ending each week no later than 9:00 am. This will be in-person in the Synagogue library, and on ZOOM:
This Thursday morning in our Pirkei Avot — The Ethics of our Fathers journey, we will be looking at the following Mishna as part of our weekly discussion:
2:2 (although numbering systems differ among different publications)
רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא אוֹמֵר, יָפֶה תַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה עִם דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, שֶׁיְּגִיעַת שְׁנֵיהֶם מְשַׁכַּחַת עָוֹן. וְכָל תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵין עִמָּהּ מְלָאכָה, סוֹפָהּ בְּטֵלָה וְגוֹרֶרֶת עָוֹן. וְכָל הָעֲמֵלִים עִם הַצִּבּוּר, יִהְיוּ עֲמֵלִים עִמָּהֶם לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁזְּכוּת אֲבוֹתָם מְסַיַּעְתָּן וְצִדְקָתָם עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד. וְאַתֶּם, מַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם שָׂכָר הַרְבֵּה כְּאִלּוּ עֲשִׂיתֶם:
Rabban Gamaliel the son of Rabbi Judah Hanasi said: excellent is the study of the Torah when combined with a worldly occupation, for toil in them both keeps sin out of one’s mind; But study of the Torah which is not combined with a worldly occupation, in the end comes to be neglected and becomes the cause of sin. And all who labor with the community, should labor with them for the sake of Heaven, for the merit of their forefathers sustains them, the community, and their forefather’s righteousness endures forever; And as for you, God in such case says I credit you with a rich reward, as if you yourselves had actually accomplished it all.
