Ethics of the Fathers

4 INGAUY! OLUITTIOL Ocal. LAULER WAI Cal AL ULIe LADiie, Ade EY A es: Samia WWittd Vi Torah, are as if they had eaten of sacrifices of dead idols, as it is said, “For all Is. 28 the tables are full of vomit and filth, when God is absent.” However, three who eat at one table and speak words of Torah, it is as if they had eaten at God’s table, as it is said, “And He spoke to me: This is the table before the LORD.” — Ezek. 41 5. Rabbi Hanina ben Hakhinai said: One who stays awake at night, travels alone, or turns his mind to idle thoughts, endangers his soul. | 6. Rabbi Nehunya ben HaKanna said: One who takes on himself the yoke of Torah will be spared the yoke of government and the yoke of worldly respon- | sibilities, but one who throws off the yoke of the Torah will bear the yoke of government and the yoke of worldly responsibilities. 7. Rabbi Halafta ben Dosa of Kfar Hananya said: When ten people sit together and study Torah, the Divine Presence rests among them, as it is said, “God Ps. 82 stands in the divine assembly.’ How do we know that the same applies to | five? From the verse, “He has founded His group on the earth.” And how do Amos 9 we know that it applies even to three? From the verse, “He judges among the Ps. 82 judges.” How do we know that the same applies even to two? From the verse, “Then those who feared the LORD talked together, and the LORD listened Mal. 3 | and heard.” And how do we know that it applies even to one? From the verse, “In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned, I will come to you Ex. 20 | and bless you.” 8. Rabbi Elazar of Bartota said: Give Him what is His, for you and yours are His. This was also said by David: “For all things come from You, and we have 1 Chr. 29 given You only what is Yours.’ 9. Rabbi Jacob said: One who is reviewing his Torah study while walking on the way, and interrupts his study to say, “What a beautiful tree” or “What a beautiful field,” is regarded by Scripture as if he had endangered his soul. 10. Rabbi Dostai of Rabbi Yannai said in the name of Rabbi Meir: One who forgets even one thing of his Torah learning, Scripture regards him as if he had endangered his soul, for it is said, “Only take heed and guard your soul Deut. 4 | very carefully so that you do not forget the things that your eyes saw.’ One | might think that this applies even to one who finds his studies too hard to