Synopsis of Subjects
CHAPTER I.
MISHNA A. The Great Assembly originated three maxims. Be deliberate
in judgment. How so? The books of Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes
were hidden. How was Adam created? Why was Adam created on the last
hour of the sixth day? On the same day on which he was formed, on the
very same day his countenance was created. According to others: "Be
deliberate in judgment" means not to have an irascible manner. Erect
safeguards for the Law. The safeguard of the Lord, of Adam the First.
The legend about Eve and the serpent, etc. The ten curses with which
Eve was cursed at that time. "Shall I and my cattle eat out of the same
trough?" The tradition about the ox of Adam, the steer of Noah, and
the ram sacrificed by Abraham,
CONTINUATION OF CHAPTER II. OF TOSEPHTHA.--What is the safeguard that
the Torah made to its words? What Elijah the prophet answered the widow
of the scholar who died in the prime of his life. What is the safe guard
that Moses made to his words? The reason why Moses broke the Tables?
What is the safeguard that Job made to his words? The safe guard that
the prophets made to their words. The safeguard that the Hagiographers
made to their words. The safeguard that the sages made to their words,
CONTINUATION OF CHAPTER III. OF TOSEPHTHA.--Whoever takes a coin from
charity when not in need of it, etc. Study the Law in thy old age, even
if thou hast studied it in thy youth. If you gave a coin to a poor man
in the morning, and another one begs of you in the evening, give him
also. What happened to a poor man with R. Aqiba. What happened to Benjamin
the just,
MISHNA B. The motto of Simeon the Just. Upon the Torah, how
so? Upon service, how so? Upon bestowal of favors, how so? Rabban Johanan
b. Zakkai and Vespasian. In three things mankind differ one from the
other,
MISHNAS C AND D. Be not like slaves who serve their masters
for the sake of compensation. Let the fear of Heaven be upon you. Let
your house be the meeting place of the wise. How did R. Aqiba begin
his wonderful career? Not less astonishing was the literary career of
R. Eliezer. How his father Hyrkanus reached the seats of Ben Zizith
Ha Kesseth, Nakdimon b. Gurion, and Calba Shebua,
MISHNAS E AND F. Let thy house be wide open for the poor.
When the great affliction came upon Job, he prayed, etc. Teach thy house
humility--the different explanations of this saying. Get thee a wise
teacher. Judge everyone from his favorable side. The legend about a
maiden who was led into captivity and the pious men who went to redeem
her. Not only were the upright of former times themselves very strict
and particular, but also their cattle were so. The ass of R. Hanina
b. Dosa,
MISHNA G. Keep aloof from a wicked neighbor. Slanderers are
punished with plagues. The legend about Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Do
not consider thyself exempt from God's chastisement,
MISHNAS H TO K. Make thyself not as those that predispose
the Judges. Love work--how so? Do not care for superiority. See to it
that your name be not known to the Government. Ye wise, be guarded in
your words. Love peace--how so? Moses desired to die the same death
Aaron did--how so? The legend of the death of Moses, at length. Pursue
peace--how so? Love all men too, and bring them nigh unto the Law,
MISHNAS L TO Q. If I do not look to myself, who will
do so? And if not now, when? He who does not desire to learn from his
masters is not worthy to live. He who increases not, decreases--how
so? He who serves himself with a tiara perishes. Fix a time for study.
Promise little and do much. Receive everyone with friendly countenance.
Make a master to thyself. "I have never found anything better for a
man than silence." Three things support the world. The disciples of
Hillel; of R. Johanan b. Zakkai--what was said about them and what they
used to say. The consolation of R. Johanan b. Zakkai by his disciples
when his son died. Thy fellow's
honor must be as dear to thee as thine own. Do not allow thyself to
be easily angered. The two proselytes that came before Hillel and Shammai.
Repent one day before thy death,
CHAPTER II.
MISHNAS A TO M. In choosing the right path, see that
it is one which is honorable to thyself and without offence to others.
All who occupy them selves with communal affairs should do it in the
name of Heaven. Do His will as if it were thy own, that He may do thy
will as if it were His. Pass not judgment upon thy neighbor until thou
hast put thyself in his place. The boor can never fear sin, and the
ignorant can never be truly pious. The more feasting the more food for
worms. What is the best thing to cultivate. Which is the evil way a
man should shun. Warm thyself before the light of the wise. An envious
eye, evil propensities, and misanthropy drive a man out of the world.
The legend about Joseph the Just, R. Zadoq, R. Aqiba, R. Eliezer the
Great, etc. How difficult it is for man to avoid the evil propensities.
Love everyone except the infidels, the enticers, the misleaders, and
the informers. Thy neighbor's property must be as sacred as thine own,
MISHNA N. Set thyself to learn the Law. Johanan b. Zakkai and
the daughter of Nakdimon b. Gurion. Let noble purpose underlie thy every
action. The sages who were recounted of R. Jehudah the Prince. How they
were named by Issi b. Jehudah,
CHAPTER III.
MISHNAS A TO V. Consider three things, and you will not
fall into transgression. Pray always for the welfare of the Government.
Whoever takes the words of the Torah to his heart. Render unto God what
belongs to Him, for thou and all thou hast are His. Whomsoever fear
of sin precedes, his wisdom prevails. He whose works are in excess of
his wisdom, his wisdom will endure. Be pliant with thy chief. Receive
every man with cheerfulness. Mockery and frivolity are the forerunners
of immorality. Everything is foreseen and free will is given. The world
is judged by grace. All that we possess is merely a trust. Without knowledge
of religion there can be no true culture, and without true culture there
is no knowledge of religion. Qinim, canons, astronomy, and geometry
are after-courses of wisdom,
CHAPTER IV.
MISHNAS A TO P. Who is a wise man? He who learns from
everybody. Despise no man, and consider nothing as too far removed to
come to pass. Be exceedingly lowly of spirit. Wear not the law of God
as a crown to exalt thyself withal. Judge not alone, for none may judge
alone save One. Whatsoever congregation is for the sake of Heaven will
in the end succeed. Let the honor of thy disciple be as dear unto thee
as the honor of thine associate.
Be careful in thy study, for error in study counts for an intentional
sin,
MISHNA Q. Neither the security of the wicked nor the afflictions
of the righteous are within the grasp of our understanding. Be beforehand
in saluting every man. Be the lion's tail rather than the fox's head.
Do not seek to appease thy friend in the hour of his passion. Look not
upon the pitcher, but upon what it contains. Envy, sensuality, and ambition
destroy life. Accept not the assurance of thy passions, that the grave
will be a place of refuge for thee. Without thy consent wert thou created,
born into the world without thy choice. Thou art living without thine
own volition, without thine approval thou wilt have to die. About the
death of Eliezer the Great. Set something apart for charity, before
you are compelled to do so by others. Lower thy seat two or three rows
from the place you intend to occupy. There are three persons whose life
is not worth living. The safeguard for honor is refraining from laughter.
The safeguard for wisdom is silence. Whoever marries a woman not suitable
to him transgresses five negative commandments. Do not be as the lintel,
which no hand can reach, etc.,
MISHNA Q. (continued). Those that despise me shall be lightly
esteemed. The support of the wise, etc. Do not keep away from a precept
which has no limit. Let the honor of thy disciple, etc. There is grain
in Judea, straw in Galilee, and chaff on the other side of the Jordan.
There is no love such as the love of the Torah. There is no wisdom such
as the wisdom of manners. Whoever maintains peace in his own household,
etc. The words of the Torah are as difficult to acquire as silken garments
and are lost as easily as, etc. All those things which are done in private
shall be done as if they were done publicly. Do not isolate thyself
from the community. The disciples are divided into three classes, etc.
Whoever constitutes the Torah as the chief good, and considers worldly
affairs as a secondary thing, etc. Conciliate not thy friend in the
hour of his anger. The scholars are divided into four classes . One
studies but does not teach others, etc. If one honor his friend for
pecuniary considerations, he will in the end be dismissed in disgrace,
etc. On account of the four different means of forgiveness, etc. Repentance
must be to every one of them. However, one who has profaned the name
of heaven has not the power to repent. Wherefore do scholars die before
their time. Be careful in greeting thy neighbor He who neglects the
words of the Law on account of his riches. There is a case where one
transgresses ignorantly, etc. One who connects himself with transgressors,
etc. The punishment of the liar is that even when he tells the truth
he is not believed,
CHAPTER V.
MISHNAS A TO G. By ten sayings the world was created.
For what purpose is this stated? Whence is it deduced that a single
person is equal to the whole creation? The Holy One, blessed be He,
showed unto Adam all succeeding generations, together with their preachers,
directors, leaders, prophets, heroes, criminals, and their pious. Nine
hundred and seventy-four generations
before the creation of the world, the Torah was already written, etc.
He created in man all that he created in his world--how So? Ten generations
were there from Adam to Noah. For what purpose was this stated? The
Lord said: I will not equal the evil thoughts to the good thoughts so
long as their fate has not yet been sealed. Ten generations were there
from Noah to Abraham. For what purpose was it necessary to state this?
With ten temptations was Abraham our father tempted. They are as follows,
etc. In contrast with these ten temptations the Lord performed ten miracles
for his descendants in Egypt. When our fathers stood by the sea, etc.
"Arise, and pass through it," etc. With ten temptations did our ancestors
tempt God in the wilderness. By means of ten trials the Holy One, blessed
be He, tested our forefathers. This sin with which the Israelites were
afflicted is enough for that time, etc. Ten names of praise are applied
to the Holy One, blessed be He. Ten ignominious names are applied to
the idols. There are two sons of the clear oil. This refers to Aaron
and Messiah. In the Torah there is written eleven times the word "she"
when it ought to be "he." Ten times did the Shekhina descend upon the
earth. Ten degrees the Shekhina removed itself from one place to another.
A prophet is called by ten different names. There are ten names for
the Holy Spirit. Ten are called "living." Ten miracles were wrought
for our fathers in Egypt,
MISHNAS H TO O. Ten miracles were performed for our forefathers
in Jerusalem. Jerusalem never was defiled by leprosy. How Kimchith,
the mother of R. Ishmael, saw her two sons as high-priests on the same
day. The men of Sodom have no share in the world to come. About Kora'h
and his company. "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive; he bringeth down
to the grave, and bringeth up," has reference to them. The generation
of the desert. "Gather together unto me my pious servants, who make
a covenant with me by sacrifice," has reference to them. The ten tribes
have no share in the world to come. R. Aqiba, however, said: "As the
day is first dark and then lightens up, so also their darkness will
be followed by light." The following seven have no share in the world
to come, etc. There are three kings and four commoners who have no share
in the world to come. Absalom has no share in the world to come. Seven
things mark the clod, and seven there are for the sage. There are seven
creations of as many grades of importance. Man possesses six qualifications,
three of which belong also to the beast, and three to the angels. The
evil spirits possess six qualifications, three of which belong to man.
There are seven sorts of hypocrites. That which is hidden is only so
from human beings, but not from Heaven. There are seven things which,
if used moderately, are wholesome to the body, and if in excess are
the reverse. With seven things God created the world. Seven attributes
are serving before the throne of Grace. There are seven dwelling-places.
A wise man does not speak before those who surpass him in wisdom and
years; and does not interrupt another in his speech; admits the truth,
etc. Seven kinds of punishments come on account of seven cardinal transgressions.
About the execution of R. Simeon b. Gamaliel and R. Ishmael b. Elisha
the high-priest. Captivity comes upon the world, etc. Five are not to
be forgiven. Four kinds of views are held by men concerning property,
MISHNAS P TO GG. There are four kinds of dispositions
among men. There are four kinds of pupils. There are four kinds of charity-givers.
There are four kinds of visitors of the house of learning. There are
four kinds of the disciples of the wise. Love inspired by ulterior motives,
etc. Whatsoever gainsaying is for the sake of Heaven will have good
results. Whosoever causes many to be righteous, sin prevails not over
him. In whomsoever are the following three things, he is a disciple
of Abraham, etc, Be courageous as the panther, light-winged as the eagle,
swift as the deer, and strong as the lion, One five years old should
study Scripture, etc. Turn it and turn it again, for everything can
be found therein,
CHAPTER VI.
MISHNAS A TO R. Whosoever is busied in Torah for the
love thereof merits many things. Every day a Heavenly voice goes forth
from Mount Horeb and proclaims as follows, etc. He who learns from his
companion one chapter, etc., is bound to do him honor. The path of Torah,
etc. Seek not greatness for thyself, and desire not honor. Greater is
Torah than the priesthood, and than the kingdom. There are four things
which bear good fruit in this world. A meritorious act has both principal
and benefit. One who causes many to be righteous, no sin prevails upon
him. Regarding dreams, there are four sages, three scholars, three books
of the prophets, and three books of the Hagiographa. Every assembly
that is for the sake of performing a religious duty remains everlasting.
Comeliness, strength, wealth, honor, wisdom, age, hoariness, and sons
are becoming to the righteous, etc. If thou shouldst give me all the
silver, gold, and goodly stones and pearls that are in the world, I
would not dwell but in a place of Torah. Five possessions had the Holy
One in this world. Whatsoever the Lord created in this world He created
only for His glory. There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, priesthood,
and kingdom. Three things were said of charitable men. There are three
different kinds among scholars. There are three different kinds of sweat
that are beneficial to the body. There are six kinds of tears. There
are three advantages in an earthen vessel. There are three advantages
in a glass vessel. The money that the Israelites carried away from Egypt
returned to Egypt. If you do the least wrong to your companion, it shall
be considered by you the greatest wrong, etc. The following articles
were hidden, etc.,
Sources: Biblical
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