Pirkei Avos


 


'Rebbe said, "what is the proper path that a person should choose


for himself?" ' [2.1]


 


The idea of this Mishnah as it applies to the service of HaShem is as


follows. There are some mitzvos and midos that a person's inherent


nature will aid him in doing. For example if he is by nature one who


has a desire to learn, that will help him so that he will be able to


learn Torah*. However there are some mitzvos that go contrary to a


person's nature and for them he must strengthen himself in order to


perform these mitzvos.


 


We find in Chazal, 'If your friend needs you to help him take a load


off his animal and your enemy needs you to help him put a load on his


animal, it is a mitzvah to help your enemy to load his animal so that


you overcome your Yetzer HaRah' [which would influence you to ignore


your enemy.] Even though this mitzvah that is contrary to your nature


is just a little more difficult then the one that is in accord with


your nature, it is still better and more acceptable to HaShem,


because through it you are overcoming your Yetzer HaRah.


 


This is the meaning of what Rebbe said, "What is the proper path that


a person should choose for himself?" i.e. which is the way for a


person to act that will better purify him? He goes on to explain


these two ideas. There is a way that 'brings honor from himself.'


This refers to those things which one's nature helps him to do.


There is a way that brings 'honor to him from other men.' This refers


to him purifying his physical nature, and doing those mitzvos that


are contrary to his nature.


 


Following this it says, 'Be careful of a light mitzvah as you would a


more difficult one.' This means that because it is contrary to your


nature, it is [in your eyes] a light mitzvah. Even so if you will


overcome your nature it will be very special to HaShem.  'Because you


don't know what the reward is for the mitzvos.' This means that this


act is contrary to your nature, and through it you will subjugate


your Yetzer HaRah, which makes it more significant before HaShem.


(p. 85 sefer Toras Avos teachings of the Rebbes of Lechovitz, Kobrin


and Solonim.  This was a teaching of Rebbe Avraham of Solonim.)


 


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