Ethics of the Fathers

Cee ee eee ene ARR SS PR PACKS AE ee IN is written in the book of Psalms by David, King of Israel, ‘I prefer the Torah Ps. 119 of your mouth to thousands of gold and silver pieces’ Furthermore, when a person departs from this world, neither silver nor gold nor precious stones nor pearls accompany him, but only Torah and good deeds, as it is said, “When Prov. 6 you walk, it will lead you; when you lie down, it will watch over you; and when you awake, it will speak with you. ‘When you walk, it will lead you’ — in this world; ‘when you lie down, it will watch over you’ - in the grave; ‘and when you awake, it will speak for you’ — in the World to Come. And it says, ‘Mine Hag. 2 is the silver, and Mine is the gold, says the LORD of hosts.” 10. Five possessions did the Holy One, blessed be He, declare as His own in His world, and they are: the Torah, heaven and earth, Abraham, Israel and the Temple. How do we know this about the Torah? Because it is written, “The Prov. 8 LORD created me at the beginning of His way, as the first of His works in days of old” How do we know it about heaven and earth? Because it is written, “So Is. 66 says the LORD: the heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what house can you build for Me, and where is the place for My rest?”; and it also says, “How numerous are Your works LORD; You made them all in wisdom; Ps. 104 the earth is full of Your creations.’ How do we know it about Abraham? Because it is written, “And He blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of God Gen. 14 the Most High, owner of heaven and earth.’ How do we know it about Israel? Because it is written, “Until Your people pass over, O LORD, until this people Ex. 15 You acquired pass over”; and it also says, “As for the holy ones who are on Ps. 16 earth and for the mighty, all My delight is in them.’ How do we know it about the Temple? Because it is written, “Your dwelling place which You, LORD, Ex.1s have made; the Temple, O LORD, which Your hands established”; and it also says, “He brought them to His holy realm, the mountain His right hand had _ Ps. 78 acquired.” u. All that the Holy One, blessed be He, created in His world, He created solely for His glory, as it is said, “All that is called by My name, it is for My glory that Js. 43 I created it, formed it and made it”; and it also says, “The LORD shall reign Ex. 15 for ever and ever.” Rabbi Hananya ben Akashya said: The Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to Makkot confer merit on Israel. That is why He gave them a copious Torah and many att commandments, as it is said, “It pleased the LORD, for the sake of [Israel’s] Js. 42 righteousness, to make the Torah great and glorious.” | If there is a minyan, mourners say the Rabbis' Kaddish (page 628).