X hide this box (for printing)

Print Options

Choose Commentaries:

ShortMix Max+ High Med Min None


Choose Language(s):

English Hebrew Both

+ Increase Font Size   |   - Decrease Font Size
<<Back to Pirkei Avot Page
Pirkei Avot / Ethics of the Fathers
with a select treasury of commentaries on all levels of Torah interpretation
Chapter 6 Beraitha 8
with select commentaries


Abbreviations used in this translation:
RSHI - Rashi Commentary (1040-1105)
RMBM - Rambam (1135-1204)
BRTN - Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura Commentary (1445-1515)
TFRT - Tiferet Yisrael commentary (1782–1860)
YONA - Rabeinu Yonah (1180-1263)
MHRL - Derech Chaim - Maharal of Prague (1525-1609) (from hebrewbooks.org/14193)
VLNA - Biur HaGra of Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna - (1720-1797)

Commentary Legend:
- for basic commentaries as relating to the plain meaning (Pshat).
- elaborates more into the theme.
- deeper in, Maharal of Prague.
- more themes in the text.

Chapter 6 Beraitha 8פרק ו ברייתא ח
 
Great is the torah for it gives life unto those that practice it, in this world and in the World-to-come, as written: "for they are life unto those who find them, and healing to all their flesh" (Mishlei 4:22); and it is written [also]: "it shall be healing to your navel and marrow to your bones" (Mishlei 3:8); and it is written: "she [the torah] is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her, and happy are those who support her" (Mishlei 3:18); and it is written: "for it will be a wreath of grace upon your head and necklaces about your throat" (Mishlei 1:9); and it is written: "She will give to your head a graceful wreath, a crown of glory will she bestow upon you" (Mishlei 4:9); and it is written: "with me your days shall be increased and years of life shall be added to you" (Mishlei 9:11), and it is written: "in her right hand is length of days, in her left riches and honor" (Mishlei 3:16), and it is written: "for length of days, years of life, and peace shall be added to you" (Mishlei 3:2). גְּדוֹלָה תוֹרָה שֶׁהִיא נוֹתֶנֶת חַיִּים לְעֹשֶׂיהָ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ד) כִּי חַיִּים הֵם לְמֹצְאֵיהֶם וּלְכָל בְּשָׂרוֹ מַרְפֵּא. וְאוֹמֵר (שם ג) רִפְאוּת תְּהִי לְשָׁרֶךָ וְשִׁקּוּי לְעַצְמוֹתֶיךָ. וְאוֹמֵר (שם ג) עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר. וְאוֹמֵר (שם א) כִּי לִוְיַת חֵן הֵם לְרֹאשֶׁךָ וַעֲנָקִים לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶיךָ. וְאוֹמֵר (שם ד) תִּתֵּן לְרֹאשְׁךָ לִוְיַת חֵן עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת תְּמַגְּנֶךָּ. וְאוֹמֵר (שם ט) כִּי בִי יִרְבּוּ יָמֶיךָ וְיוֹסִיפוּ לְךָ שְׁנוֹת חַיִּים. וְאוֹמֵר (שם ג) אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד. וְאוֹמֵר (שם) כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ. וְאוֹמֵר (שם) דְּרָכֶיהָ דַּרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם
Tiferet Yisrael - "Great is the torah for it gives life unto those that practice it" - ie to he who does as he learns in the torah.

Qualities (maalot) such as wealth, might (gevurah), and honor can also be acquired through other wisdoms and knowledge. But life in this world and the next world can only be attained through the torah. These qualities include all others. For without life, all the other qualities are worth nothing since: "skin for skin, all that a man has will he give for his life" (Iyov 2:4).

Furthermore, the torah heals all ailments as he continues... and the torah is like a tree of life, as written: "lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" (Gen.3:22).

So too, through torah, a man acquires life which does not end in death. For "the righteous are called living even after death" (Berachot 18b). Then they begin to truly live. For their souls illuminate in the light of life and they ascend there endlessly. Thus not only will your soul merit life, but you will ascend higher and higher endlessly...
Yosef Alav - "Great is the torah for it gives life unto those that do it.. - it is proper to understand that which he said "to those who do it" and not "to those who learn it". Furthermore, why the need for all these verses. It seems to me to answer as written in many places. Namely, one who does not know and did not attain the levels of torah, he can merit in this world and in Olam Haba like one who learns torah. How? By supporting (machzik) those who learn torah and they will learn for him. Then certainly he has an equal portion (chelek kechelek beshavei).

For this he did not say "to those who learn it". For he wanted to teach us that even if one did not study but rather supported those who learn torah, even so, he merits life in this world and the next.. As written: "she (the torah) is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her", as our sages expounded. And since the verse says "machzikim" (hold), certainly the intent is not [only] to those who learn mamash but rather the machzikim (supporters) are also included..
Ruach Chaim - "she (the torah) is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her" - for this world is a raging sea and its stormy waves rise to drown a person in the depths of lusts (for money, pleasures, etc). But he who comes to be saved, let him hold on to the Tree of Life, which is the Torah. It is the elixir against the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and his lusts. One who separates from the torah is like one who separates from life. For it is our life. One who learns in this way, namely, that which he holds on to the torah is in order to be saved from the yetzer hara - then the torah will truly be a tree of life.

In footnote 126 there: in his writings (ketav yad) it is written: a man needs to have in his thoughts always that every time and every moment he is engaged in the vanities of the world, he is like a person drowning in a river. To illustrate, if a person drowning in a river sees before him a tree, certainly he will immediate take hold of it with all his might and not let go for even one second. For who is so foolish as to not realize that if he lets go of the branch, he will drown in the river? So too, the torah is called a "tree of life". For all the time a man is clinging to the torah, he is clinging to eternal life. But if he lets go of her, he immediately drowns in the raging waters, r''l.