Part 3

Reader: (0:00) We're reading the Mishnah Pirkei Avot, chapter 3, item 16.

Reader: (0:13) Item 16. 

He used to say, everything is given against a pledge, and a net is spread out over all the living. The store is open, and the storekeeper allows credit. But the ledger is open, and the hand writes, and whoever wishes to borrow may come and borrow. But the collectors go around regularly every day, and exact dues from man, either with his consent or without his consent. And they have that upon which they can rely in their claims, saying that the judgment is a righteous judgment, and everything is prepared for the banquet.

M. Laitman: What's there to add? I'm not sure. He wraps it ideally. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:24) Actually, about this Pirkei Avot, Baal HaSulam took and opened it up greatly in the article of The Peace, I think.

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (01:50) It's written, you should not put an obstacle before a blind man. So, why did the Creator seemingly put an obstacle before us? The open store, whoever wants to come can come and borrow. But there's the collectors, they write everything down in the ledger and they collect regularly. So what, a person has the will to receive and the store is open, of course he'll steal. 

M. Laitman: I guess there are other conditions whereby a person can avoid stealing. 

Student: Before he... 

M. Laitman: Yes, in order to use correctly everything that's before him in that store he learns and he maintains himself in order to relate correctly to all the goods in the store.

Student: A person awakens in a person desires for the products that are in the store. Those desires control a person.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: The products are before him. What will keep him from stealing, from receiving for himself? 

M. Laitman: Only equivalence with the Creator. 

Student: The Creator is concealed.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: So how, the products are revealed, they're disclosed and also the desires are disclosed. How can he work with a force that is concealed that will prevent him from stealing something that's there, is opportune for him? 

M. Laitman: The question is, does a person know that what he's doing is theft? 

Student: That's also another step, where he doesn't know that he's stealing, and even when he does know he's stealing, can he withstand it? The temptation from stealing.

M. Laitman: These are all questions. These are questions and we don't know what the answers are.

Reader: (04:45) Item 17. 

Rav Eleazar Ben Azariah said, where there is no Torah, there is no right conduct. Where there's no right conduct, there is no Torah. Where there is no wisdom, there is no fear of God. Where there is no fear of God, there is no wisdom. Where there is no understanding, there's no knowledge. Where there is no knowledge, there's no understanding. Where there's no bread, there's no Torah. Where there's no Torah, there is no bread. He used to say, one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, to what may he be compared? To a tree whose branches are numerous, but whose roots are few. So that when the wind comes, it uproots it and overturns it. As it is said, he shall be like a bush in the desert, which does not sense the coming of good. It is set in the scorched places of the wilderness, in a barren land, without inhabitant. But one whose deeds exceed his wisdom, to what may he be compared? To a tree whose branches are few, but roots are many. So that even if all the winds in the world come and blow upon it, they cannot move it out of its place. As it is said, he shall be like a tree planted by waters, sending forth its roots by a stream. It does not sense the coming of heat. Its leaves are ever fresh. It has no care in a year of drought. It does not cease to yield fruit. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (07:12) Rav, can I ask about the approach to this text? I'm really impressed by this text. It has a certain kind of melody. Also, when you're reading Psalms, I don't really try to understand every word but more the feeling of the spirit of what's happening there. The question is, when we read Pirkei Avot, is it more correct to interpret every single word or to feel the melody and try to incorporate in it?

M. Laitman: Of course, it's both, but connecting to the melody is more important. 

Reader: (08:01) Item 18.

Rav Eliezer ben Chisma said, the laws of mixed burnt offerings and the key to the calculation of menstruation, these are the body of the halacha. The calculation of the equinoxes and gematria are the deserts of wisdom.

M. Laitman: Again.

Rav Eliezer Ben Chisma said, the laws of mixed bird offerings and the key to the calculations of menstruation days, these are the body of the halacha. The calculation of equinoxes and gematria are the deserts of wisdom.

M. Laitman: Now we don't quite understand these elements of the Mishnah. So, let's keep going.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (09:11) In 17, everyone quotes, if there's no flour, there's no Torah, if there's no bread, there's no Torah. They explain many things here. He says, if there's no bread, there's no Torah, if there's no Torah, there's no bread. There's no knowledge, there's no understanding, if there's no understanding, there's no knowledge. What is this co-dependency between these concepts? If we don't have this, we don't have that. It's also on the vice versa.

M. Laitman: I don't know. Pirkei Avot, literally the chapters of the fathers, are short verses, short chapters rather, that we have nothing to do about them. We can only hear them and try to keep them, not more than that. Who knows what are his intentions when he wrote or said those things?

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (10:31) Some impressions from this. He always says, if not this, we don't have that, etc. It sounds like there needs to be balance but the second part of the Mishnah, that one says that he's talking about his deeds being more than his wisdom and it's a certain preference that he adds there. Where in the beginning you're trying to understand, there needs to be balance. He says, no, it's best for you to be on this side. Meaning, what's the first part influencing, causing him to conclude this conclusion? 

M. Laitman: Yes. It's very interesting.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (11:21) What is this tree that is planted on the waters? Does the tree choose where it's going to be planted? 

M. Laitman: No, it's already a fact. A person ensured that he will be planted on water, on waters, by water.

Student: How to be planted on waters?

M. Laitman: Are you asking me philosophy or poetics? 

Student: Towards our work, what is to be planted upon waters?

M. Laitman: I guess it's good for the Creator. And that is why the Creator ensured that it will be planted by waters.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (12:25) Can I also, about the previous item to continue the friend? If there's no bread, there's no Torah. If there's no Torah, there's no bread. So, it's kind of like, it sounds like it's pretty concealed, this and that. So what's the matter of this duality? We talked earlier about, in the article, we talked about, the friend asked, how could it be that so who decides, the upper one or the lower one? So it's almost like in nature, lightning cannot hit the ground if there's no electrons on the ground that will, on the other hand, if there's electrons in the clouds and there's no deficiency below to draw that, there will be no bolt of lightning. So, it's not who decided first, it's if the land decided first that there'll be lightning, but not necessarily the nature of the Creator. We say the Creator in Gematria is nature, he decides, what does he mean, he says he's the field of potentials, a field that the Creator has blessed, and whatever he decides according to the deficiency, each according to his extent, not for the better or for the worst, or if this hill wasn't enough with the deficiency, then the lightning will come down there. The lightning doesn't have to come down, meaning there's all possibilities, yes? And then it seems like there's a contradiction, it's not a contradiction, if there's no bread, there's no Torah, if there's no Torah, there's no bread. And he goes through the whole matrix here, and all the divisions, he can't go through all the words, but in a simple way, it's potential, and that's how he explains it. Is that right, that explains the principle?

M. Laitman: Yes, I think so.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (14:18) In 17, Rav Leiser starts with, if there is no Torah, he starts with the Torah, and he also finishes with the, if there’s no Torah there’s not bread. So, from all that, the whole cascading starts from the Torah and ends with the Torah. So, eventually, there needs to be bread. So what's this middle part where we, where this so-called cascading, he starts with the Torah, where's the Torah here? He starts with Torah and ends with Torah, and he's supposed to start from below, from the bread. I'm simply trying to make this discernment of, a person needs to begin with the Torah, with the cascading from above. There's no right conduct, there's no Torah, there's no, and so on, and so forth. Then he finishes, if there's no Torah, there's no bread. So where do we start, from the Torah? The right conduct, or where's the beginning here?

M. Laitman: I guess the beginning is in the Torah.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (15:47) What if his wisdom is greater than his deeds? 

M. Laitman: As you hear it, that a person's wisdom when his wisdom is more important, more, it stands out, more than his actions that are not good, great, outstanding. 

Student: He says that if his wisdom is greater than his actions, then he's in bad shape. And he answered that the tree that has big branches, but small roots, and the wind will uproot it. So his deeds need to be greater than his wisdom. How does a person balance, examine that his deeds are greater than his wisdom?

M. Laitman: If his, if his deeds are greater than his wisdom, by going above reason. 

Student: So the deed is a deed that's above reason? Is that considered his deed? 

M. Laitman: I think so.

Student: So a person needs to make sure that he's always going above reason. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Reader: (17:34) We're in Chapter 4, Item 1.

Ben Zoma said, Who is wise? He who learns from every man. As it is said, from all who taught me, I have gained understanding. Who is mighty, he who subdues his inclination. As it is said, he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city. Who is rich, he who rejoices in his lot. As it is said, you shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy, and you shall prosper. You shall be happy in this world, and you shall prosper in the worlds to come. Who is he that is honored, he who honors his fellow human beings. As it is said, for I honor those that honor me, but those who spurn me shall be dishonored.

M. Laitman: Is that okay? Yes.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (18:59) He says, who is a wise one that learns from every person? What is there to learn from every person? 

M. Laitman: Something. He thinks that there is, in every person, there is something that he lacks and he should learn from.

Reader: (19:35) Item 2.

Ben Azai said, be quick in performing a minor commandment, as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression. For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression. For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment, and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression. 

M. Laitman: No questions, yes? I don't see any. 

Reader: (20:18) Item 3.

He used to say, Do not despise any man and do not discriminate against anything, for there is no man that is not his hour and there is no thing that has not its place. 

M. Laitman: No questions. No questions. Go ahead.

Reader: (21:01) Item 4. 

Rav Levitas, a man of Yavne, said, Be exceeding humble spirit, for the end of man is the worm. Rav Yochanan ben Broca said, Whoever profanes the name of heaven in secret, he shall be punished in the open. Unwittingly, or wittingly, it is all one in profaning the name. 

M. Laitman: I don't see any questions. You don't want to ask anything? Item five. Well done.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (22:26) Rav, I didn't understand item three. Do not despise any man, and do not discriminate against anything, since there is no man who does not have his hour, and there is no thing that has not its place. What is he talking about?

M. Laitman: Each and everyone has his own time, such a moment, such a time when he becomes great. 

Student: What does that mean? 

M. Laitman: That he is better than everyone at that moment. 

Student: So what is the correct attitude, if not to despise? 

M. Laitman: Yes, don't judge him according to what you see. Rather, take into consideration that there are things, that this person can be more than everyone else in something. 

Student: Also, in the previous item, he says it's better to be one who; better than a hero, all these good deeds that he can do and all that. So what is he giving us in all that?

M. Laitman: I don't know.

Student: It's as if we need to bow our head and be humble. 

M. Laitman: It will help us so much to understand the basics. All right. Why are you so silent today? What's the reason? There was a big event yesterday?

Reader: (24:29) Today is the event. 

M. Laitman: Today, okay. So I'm clear.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (24:42) What's the meaning of one who despises the Creator or profanes the Creator? 

M. Laitman: Profanes the Creator, meaning he brings it into the secular.

Question (Women Rehovot 1): (25:02) This writing comes and says whoever respects the others will be respected, and those who despise will be despised. Can you explain what does that mean? 

M. Laitman: It's also clear. Those who honor, he honors, and those who spurn, he spurns. He dishonors. 

Question (PT 22): (25:42) For some time we're reading Pirkei Avot already for several days. With what intention should we accompany this reading of Pirkei Avot? 

M. Laitman: Look, Pirkei Avot, they are by themselves, they're very important. It's not for nothing that they are added to the prayer book. You can find them in each and every prayer book. That's how they're called, Pirkei Avot, chapters of the fathers. It's truly our fathers, our patriarchs. Everybody learns them. Everybody uses them. And I don't think we have that many excerpts or verses, chapters that we can read and use. With such a rich appeal from everyone.

Question (Women Latin 26): (27:19) What is to be lowly?

M. Laitman: how to translate it?

Student: In item 4 he says, be very, very humble and spill it, for the end of man is the warm. 

M. Laitman: So what can I say, humble, lowly, modest, humble, modest, quiet, he makes concessions for everyone and so on and so forth, yeah? 

Question (Women PT23): (27:57) They're asking in item 16 that we read, what is in the store and what's good to take from it? He's asking about the store is open and the hand is writing, so what's in the store, what can you take from it?

M. Laitman: Where was it? Item 16,

Student: he used to say everything is given against a pledge, and a net is spread out over all the living, the store is open and the storekeeper allows credit, but the ledger is open and the hand writes, 

M. Laitman: and whoever wishes to borrow may come and borrow, but the collectors go around regularly, every day and exact dues from men, either with his consent or without his consent and they have that on which they can rely on their claims. Seeing that the judgment is a righteous judgment and everything is prepared for the banquet. So, what are they trying to understand?

Student: What's in the store and what's good to take from there? And also, they're asking, how will a person pay for the debt for what he took? 

M. Laitman: The store is all of life and you can take from the soul and from all its fulfillments and health and everything you want there. We're not talking about a regular store, obviously. So, a person needs to know that everything is open, everything is laid out before everyone and he simply needs to choose what he wants. 

Student: How does he pay the debt for what he took? How does he even identify that?

M. Laitman: He should know that this is how life is laid out before him, that in each and every step in life, when he turns and enters a connection with someone, then relative to that someone, he's got the same attitude, the same relationship as to the store owner, storekeeper. He gives something, he gives him something back, meaning to see what's going on with him and that he's taking daily in this way. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (30:51) Rav, towards taking from the store, the way we take more carefully, we calculate more.

M. Laitman: Right. 

Student: And when I look at the environment, the people around me, they kind of like borrow without calculations, but I see that the Creator enjoys them more. It's the desire to give abundance and how, what does the Creator enjoy more, from the one who is taking it heavily, or from those that simply enjoy Him and that's it?

M. Laitman: One who is taking with the calculation and is aware of the calculation and is ready to pay back his dues. One who has a restriction, a screen and a reflected light with the Creator. 

Student: So the Creator enjoys him more? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (31:53) In many of the excerpts we read, a person needs to be humble, humble spirits, modest, to look at everything, not to despise and all that. On the other hand, we see that a person sometimes needs to be, to fight over things, to battle for things. You can't just float in this world and expect the Creator to do everything for you. 

M. Laitman: Right.

Student: Where is that border between where a person needs to battle and where he needs to simply observe and lower himself and that's actually his advancement. 

M. Laitman: I guess it's the middle line, but how to get to it? That's something you need to learn. Until the soul of a person should teach him, our soul, in it and of itself, has to teach us.

Student: Is there, like, points that you can follow as long as the person is not certain how to relate to every situation? 

M. Laitman: That's the rule. The soul of a person should teach him. And with each and every thing, we need to think. He needs to think that he is receiving it from the Creator. And he will have to repay it, complete it somehow. That's how it works.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (33:33) We see that the writings of Rabash many times use Pirkei Avot. That's where they separate and then they interpret and open up things. Can you say in a few words to connect correctly, what is the Mishna from which the Pirkei Avot comes from?

M. Laitman: It's a collection, a compilation of words of the sages who spoke briefly about all the different phenomena that we encounter during our lifetime. 

Student: I understand they suckled the wisdom that they attained from the Torah. There were also the Tanaim that wrote there. It's not what's written in the Torah. The Torah writes in a specific way and they somehow conclude conclusions and give certain ethics and work. So, in order to connect correctly, what does the wisdom of Kabbalah, the internality of the Torah do in collaboration with the Mishna? How is it that Bar Asulam and Rabash use this in order to take the internality from within? What's the relationship between these two parts?

M. Laitman: I think that because, as a result of their connection to our foundations, they are receiving and accepting the Torah in this way, or it tells us about everything from one end to another, about which they are asking.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (35:46) I wanted to add, you said earlier that we received everything in advance. So, in item 16, he writes and the storekeeper allows credit. And then he continues and whoever wants to borrow may come and borrow and the collectors go around regularly every day and give back. The collectors, we used to have a Gabbai and Shatz. What is the Gabbai that gives back every day? What's to give back to the Creator what He lent us? 

M. Laitman: The Gabbai is the one that keeps the order.

Student: So, by keeping the order, they give back to the Creator?

M. Laitman: Probably, I don't know. Tonight we have a special evening.

Reader: (36:53) A unity evening.

M. Laitman: Unity evening, okay. There are no questions about that? No, I don't see. It's recommended, it's worthwhile to think and be in contact to think about what you wish to receive in this evening, to attain in this evening. There are many things there with which we can fill ourselves, our brains, our hearts, truly enjoy the connection with the friends, so good luck to you, good luck. And I hope that tomorrow I'll see you in the morning lesson, okay? We'll conclude.

Reader: (38:10) So, thank you, we will conclude with announcements.

So, our broadcast is scheduled for today, Sunday, at noon, the afternoon lesson, and this evening we have the Unity of Events, starting 5.30 p.m. There'll be an open studio at the Arbutz system and on Sviva Tova. At 6 p.m. the physical gathering in the center in Petach Tikva, and 7 p.m. we'll start with the content for the evening. We'll conclude. 

Good day to everyone.