Avot162

נושא: Avot

BET MIDRASH VIRTUALI

Rabbi Ĥalafta ben-Dosa from Kefar Ĥananyah says: When ten people sit down and occupy themselves with Torah the Divine Presence rests among them, for it is said [Psalm 82:1] "God stands in the divine assembly". And from where [do we know that this is the case with] even [just] five? – It says [Amos 9:6] "And His thumb founded it on the earth". And from where [do we know that this is the case with] even [just] three? – It says [Psalm 82:1] "Among the justices He pronounces judgment". And from where [do we know that this is the case with] even [just] two? – It says [Malachi 3:16] "Those who revere God have been talking to one another; God has heard and noted it". And from where [do we know that this is the case with] even [just] one? – It says [Exodus 20:21] "In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you".

5:
The purpose of our mishnah is to teach that study of Torah brings a kind of direct contact with God. I well remember the words of an orthodox colleague, many years ago, who used to say, "When I study Torah I feel that I am in contact with the mind of God." The method of our mishnah is to quote biblical verses – out of context, of course. These verses may be interpreted as indicating a connection between occupation with Torah and the Divine Presence.

6:
The first verse quoted is the first part of the fist verse of Psalm 82. (The second part of the verse will be used for a different purpose later on.) This verse contains the Hebrew word edah (here translated as 'assembly'). There is a very famous midrash of the sages on the biblical verse Numbers 14:27 –

How much longer shall that wicked community keep muttering against Me?…

The 'community' (or 'assembly') in question is the twelve scouts who were sent to reconnoitre the land and whose report brought despair to the Israelites. There were twelve scouts, of course; but two of them (Joshua and Caleb) presented an encouraging report, so the 'wicked community' of which God complains in the biblical verse must consist of ten people. This, says the midrash, shows that a community or assembly consists of ten people! (For a fuller discussion of this midrash see Sanhedrin 029, explanation 6.)

7:
Having established that, for the sages, the Hebrew word edah indicates ten people it is now clear how our present mishnah reaches the conclusion that when ten people study Torah together the Divine Presence is with them: for it [Psalm 82:1] says that "God stands in the edah".

8:
Our mishnah also teaches that God is present when five people study Torah together. This is derived from the prophet Amos. In Amos 9:6 we read "And His thumb founded it on the earth". Actually, it is not at all clear what the Hebrew word aggudah means in this connection; but clearly our mishnah connects the term with the word aggudal which indicates a thumb. 'Thumb' in its turn suggests 'five'. Quod erat demonstrandum.

To be continued.

Avot 159 produced quite a few messages. The first is from Josh Greenfield.

The coincidence of studying this mishnah while reading Parashat Vayishlah last week made me wonder – has anyone to your knowledge attempted to link this teaching specifically to Yaakov, in particular the incident where an angel wrestles with him (Bereishit 32:25-30). After all, he's staying awake at night, and is in effect travelling alone after sending his family and possessions across the river. It is less clear that he had also emptied his thoughts to no purpose, although perhaps there are midrashim to that effect. In any case, the angel fighting with him (and clearly attempting to hurt him) suggested to me that in some sense Yaakov's life was forfeit, which would be another way to interpreting the end of this mishnah. Along those lines, Yaakov also travels alone, and is awake at night (or at least past sunset), at the beginning of Parashat Vayetzei. Perhaps there he is protected by studying Torah, as the midrash interprets "mishenato" (from his sleep) in verse 28:16 as "mimishenato" (from his learning), hence he does not have to fight for his life.

I respond:

I know of no midrash to the effect that Josh suggests. If my ignorance is correct it would mean that Josh has here presented a wonderful ĥiddush – a novel midrashic interpretation of a biblical event. Kudos to Josh Greenfield!

A happy and joyous Ĥanukah to everybody!

The shiurim of the Rabin Mishnah Study Group are usually sent out on Monday and Thursday;
the shiurim of the Halakhah Study Group are usually sent out on Tuesday.
Did you know? The Mishnah shiurim are also available in Hebrew. (Go to Subscribe/Unsubscribe above)

These shiurim are and will remain free of charge.
If you should enjoy one of them please consider making a secure online donation to the Masorti Movement, which sponsors them. Make sure that you indicate that your donation is for the "Virtual Beit Midrash" in the dropdown box for "My Gift Allocation". All donations to the Virtual Bet Midrash are tax deductable.
Please use this link to reach the Masorti OnlineDonation Form.