Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says: He who fulfills a single mitzvah gains for himself a single advocate; one who commits a single transgression gains for himself a single accuser. Repentence and good deeds are like a shield against retribution
I found, in the ArtScroll Pirkei Avos Treasury, a parable (paraphrased) for this mishna that is worth sharing:
There was a man who had three friends. He loved the first friend very much and spent much time pursuing this friendship, sometimes to the exclusion of other friends. The second friend was almost as close and he felt very comfortable in this friend's company. The third friend was more of an acquaintance; the man would occasionally seek out this friend, but might go some time without his friend's company.
This man was summoned to appear before the court to be accused of a crime. The man, understandably concerned and wanting for someone to stand with him, approached his first friend, but this friend would not accompany the man to the court. The second friend was willing to accompany the man to the court, but only as far as the outside steps, not inside the courtroom. Desparate, the man approached the last friend, the acquaintance. This friend said that he would be happy to stand with the man in the court and help to defend him against the charges.
The first friend is like our money and wealth and all that we strive so hard and with such single-mindedness to accumulate. None of this will make any difference when we stand before our Judge and answer for our actions. The second friend is like our family who loves us and whom we love. They can accompany us only as far as the cemetery and no farther. They can not stand with us when we stand before the Judge. The third friend is our good deeds, our true repentence, and the mitzvot that we have strived to keep. These stand with us when we answer our accuser before the Judge of all. These are our witnesses that we have striven to live our life as G-d intended it.
As we approach the Yomim Noraim, we can keep in mind that even one mitzvah may be just what is needed to tip the scales of justice in our favor. A single mitzvah may be the advocate that we need to win a favorable judgment.
(Delivered 9/8/2006 at Congregation Agudath Israel
1 comment:
NEW BOOK - RABBEINU YONAH on PIRKEI AVOS
Rav Wolbe writes that a person who wants to lay down the foundation for his spiritual world is required to acquire extensive fundamental knowledge of Pirkei Avos with the commentary of Rabeinu Yona z’l. (Alei Shur vol. 1 p. 29).
The Maharik says that "there is none like Rabbeinu Yonah to bring the matter to the heart". For the first time this essential commentary is available to the English speaking public.
The book is over 400 pages and contains extensive footnotes and sources.
Translated by Rabbi David Sedley and published by Torahlab, it is not yet available in stores.
What people are saying about Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos:
“this is a very beautiful book”
“Rabbeinu Yonah is THE Rishon on Avos, but unfortunately is not widely studied. Now the text is accesible to a wide audience.”
“It is incredible that until now there has been no English translation of Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot. This excellent translation fills a big gap in any English Jewish library.”
Post a Comment