The Dingaling Hotline is a Shabbos House special for the long Shabbos days between Passover and Rosh Hashanah. Each week we study one chapter of “Ethics of our Fathers” (as is traditional) in this unique fashion. Everyone participating gets a book, Rabbi Mendel announces the page numbers of the chapter, and “callers” dial in with a Mishna of their choice, one that jumps off the page at them, one in which they have a question, insight or favorite message. The caller reads the Mishna in English (or Hebrew, too) and explains what is it about this Mishna that prompted the call. If no calls come in, we do some jingles or commercials until the lines start popping. This type of call-in show is perfectly compatible with the Shabbat and Holiday laws and observance.
Below are some of the “calls” on Shabbos Nachamu afternoon, August 9th, the last Cozy-Shabbat of the Summer 2014 season, for Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers”) Chapter 4:
“Who is wise, one who learns from everyone”. This goes beyond learning from everyone in your same group, it is about appreciating and valuing wisdom beyond your community or circle. And there’s plenty we can learn from public personalities and official figures as well. Some in positive ways, others, unfortunately, in negative ways. Not to be a gossiper, but as they say in education, discussing a behavior or leadership style it can be a “teachable moment.” We ought to take advantage of all types of learning opportunities.
“Don’t separate yourself from the community.” I like this statement, its an important call to be active communally, to contribute, to do your share and not to be isolated and alone. In light of current events, it can also be understood as a message to stay connected and part of the Jewish people. Stand with the community, especially in a time of need.
The Hebrew word used here for community is “Tzibur” which can be an acronym for Tzadik, Benoni, Rasha, the righteous, the average and the wicked. Communities have all three types, and it is important to include all types in our broader sense of community and one that we ought to stay connected to.
“Don’t rejoice at the fall of your enemies.” I think this statement is one of the things that differentiates Israel from its enemies. Israel celebrates life, not death. Most Israelis do not rejoice at the death of the enemy, although it may be the unfortunate neccessity to save oneself and one’s country. We recoil at the sight of the jubiliation and celebration that the other side displays at the death of their enemies, cheering at 9/11, dancing when Israelis die. Despite the defesnive measures and wars that we have no choice but to fight, we should never rejoice at death and instead always celebrate and cherish life, both our own and the life of others as well.
“One who neglects Torah in wealth will ultimately neglect it in poverty.” Most blessings are recited prior to teh activity, but not the Grace After Meals. Why did the Torah design it to follow the meal instead of precede it? (The blessings we made before eating food are Rabbinic and not from the Torah itself). This can be understood by the context of the Torah reading in Eikev which speaks of the Grace After Meals. The Torah says we should always be cognizant of where our blessings come from, and not get too smug and satisfied, and think it is all our own success. That’s a key point of the Grace After Meals: Eat, be satisfied, but don’t get carried away. Remember to thank G-d, remember to be humble, grateful and appreciative. That ties right into our Mishna: Someone who neglect the Torah because of wealth, will eventually neglect it in poverty. The blessings of wealth won’t keep in someone arrogant, selfish and ungrateful.
“We can’t understand the suffering of the righteous, nor the calm of the wicked.” At some point in life we begin to realize that we don’t have answers and explanations to all of life’s complicated questions. We realize that as much as we know, we really know very little. Obviously, we continue to learn and explore and seek answers, but we have a strong enough foundation to continue onward even without those answers, and we we realize that as much as we learn, we just can’t know everything – especially when it comes to these types of questions.
“One who learns Torah as a child, is like ink on fresh paper.” This teaches us the importance of starting young. Don’t wait until you are older, or underestimate youthful studies, because there is a fresh approach when you are young and it has advantages that dissipate with age. I’m young, so now’s the time to take advantage!
I’m a little older (than the earlier “caller”) so I see this Mishna a little differently. Yes, it’s easiest when you have a fresh piece of paper, no question about that. But there’s also something to be said for those who learn when they are older. All the smudges and wear & tear and wisdom of life’s experiences add character to the page, although it may not be as quick and easy of a process.
and a third take on this Mishna (from “Caller #3) heard from Rabbi Rubin: This Mishna is not about age-discrimination but about attitude. It all depends on how you approach learning, whether you are 7 or 70. If you come into it with a lot of prior knowledge and biases, and are not open, eager and fresh, it will be like old worn out paper. But even if you are older, it is possible to learn as a child, and your learning be like ink on fresh paper…