Ethics of the Fathers

ee we ee eg ee ee ee = all the days of your life.” Thus, one does not endanger his soul unless he deliberately removes teachings from his heart. u. Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa said: For one who puts fear of sin before wisdom, wisdom endures. For one who puts wisdom before fear of sin, wisdom does not endure. 12. He also used to say: For one whose good deeds exceed his wisdom, wisdom | endures. For one whose wisdom exceeds his good deeds, wisdom does not endure. 13. He also used to say: In one in whom people delight, God delights. In one in whom people do not delight, God does not delight. 14. Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas said: Sleeping late in the morning, drinking wine at midday, chattering with children and sitting in gatherings of the ignorant — these drive a person from the world. 15. Rabbi Elazar of Modin said: One who desecrates sacred things, despises the festivals, shames his fellow in public, nullifies the covenant of our father Abraham, or attributes meanings to the Torah contrary to normative law, even though he has to his credit Torah and good deeds, has no share in the World to Come. 16. Rabbi Yishmael said: Be yielding to a superior, pleasing to the young, and | receive everyone cheerfully. | 17. Rabbi Akiva said: Mocking and frivolity lead to immorality. The oral tradition (Mesora) is a fence protecting the Torah; tithes are a fence protecting wealth; vows are a fence protecting abstinence. The fence protecting wisdom is silence. 18. He used to say: Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of God. As a gesture of special love, it was made known to him that he was created in the image of God, as it is said, “For in the image of God He made man.” Beloved Gen. 9 are Israel for they are called God’s children. As a gesture of special love, it was made known to them that they are called God’s children, as it is said, “You Deut. 14 are the children of the LORD your God.” Beloved are Israel, for they were | given a precious vessel [the Torah]. As a gesture of special love, it was made known to them that they were given the precious vessel through which the world was created, as it is said, “I have given you good instruction; do not Prov. 4 forsake My Torah.”