C TO TOUCH THE HEIGHTS
Chazal say that a person is always supposed to ask himself: “Masai yagi’u maasei l’maasei avosei — When will my deeds reach those of my forefathers?” Someone once asked the Kotzker Rebbe, “How will I ever be able to achieve the greatness of our Avos? I’m nowhere near their madreigah.” The Kotzker explained to him that “yagi’u” means “to touch.” We don’t have to reach the level of our Avos; we just have to aim for it, touch it, and then we’re already on our way. Indeed, we can get discouraged from learning Pirkei Avos, which was written by the Tannaim, the greatest leaders of Klal Yisroel. But the introduction, which says, “Kol Yisroel yesh lahem chelek l’Olam Haba,” immediately reassures us that no matter what we manage to achieve, every Yid has their part in Olam Haba. In fact, the final chapter of Pirkei Avos ends with the words: “Ratzah Hakadosh Baruch Hu l’zakos es Yisroel…” Hashem, in His Infinite kindness, wanted to give us all a chance to reach great heights. L’havdil, just as a teacher might look for ways to give a weaker student extra points on an exam, squeezing in one for neatness and another for effort to make up for her poor answers, so, too, Hashem gave us all kinds of unique mitzvos and opportunities for growth so that even the most pashute Yid can relate to them and earn a coveted place in the Next World. Pirkei Avos is chock-full of those extra opportunities, which we will attempt to cover in this new weekly column.
'פרק א 'משנה ב
Shimon Hatzaddik says, “Al shlosha devarim ha’olam omad, al haTorah v’al ha’avodah v’al gemilas chasadim — The world stands on three things:
52 / THE MONSEY VIEW