PEREK SHIRAH: The songbird is saying, "The
songbird has also found her home, and the sparrow a nest for herself, where she
may lay her young - Your altars, G-d of Hosts – my King and my Lord."
(Psalms 84:4)
PIRKEI AVOT: Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai
received the tradition from Hillel and Shammai. He would say: If you have
learned much Torah, do not take credit for yourself---it is for this that you
have been formed.
Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai had five disciples:
Rabbi Eliezer the son of Hurkenus, Rabbi Yehoshua the son of Chananya, Rabbi
Yossi the Kohen, Rabbi Shimon the son of Nethanel, and Rabbi Elazar the son of
Arach. He would recount their praises: Rabbi Eliezer the son of Hurkenus is a
cemented cistern that loses not a drop; Rabbi Yehoshua the son of
Chananya---fortunate is she who gave birth to him; Rabbi Yossi the Kohen---a chassid
(pious one); Rabbi Shimon the son of Nethanel fears sin; Rabbi Elazar ben Arach
is as an ever-increasing wellspring.
[Rabban Yochanan] used to say: If all the sages of
Israel were to be in one cup of a balance-scale, and Eliezer the son of
Hurkenus were in the other, he would outweigh them all. Abba Shaul said in his
name: If all the sages of Israel were to be in one cup of a balance-scale,
Eliezer the son of Hurkenus included, and Elazar the son of Arach were in the
other, he would outweigh them all.
[Rabban Yochanan] said to them: Go and see which is
the best trait for a person to acquire. Said Rabbi Eliezer: A good eye. Said
Rabbi Yehoshua: A good friend. Said Rabbi Yossi: A good neighbor. Said Rabbi
Shimon: To see what is born [out of one’s actions]. Said Rabbi Elazar: A good
heart. Said He to them: I prefer the words of Elazar the son of Arach to yours,
for his words include all of yours.
He said to them: Go and see which is the worst trait,
the one that a person should most distance himself from. Said Rabbi Eliezer: An
evil eye. Said Rabbi Yehoshua: An evil friend. Said Rabbi Yossi: An evil
neighbor. Said Rabbi Shimon: To borrow and not to repay; for one who borrows
from man is as one who borrows from the Almighty, as is stated, ``The wicked
man borrows and does not repay; but the righteous one is benevolent and gives''
(Psalms 37:21). Said Rabbi Elazar: An evil heart. Said He to them: I prefer the
word of Elazar the son of Arach to yours, for his words include all of yours.
SEFIROT: Yesod shebeChesed (foundation and firmness
within the context of kindness)
On the sixth week of the Jewish year, during the month of Cheshvan, the
songbird in Perek Shirah praises G-d for providing it a home, and for providing
a nest for the sparrow to lay its young. The songbird’s verse also speaks of
the altars of G-d. As mentioned above, it is during this month that the Third
Temple, G-d’s home and the location of His altars, will be dedicated, perhaps
even in this sixth week. (See Table I)
In Pirkei Avot, Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai, who received the
oral tradition from Hillel and Shammai used to say that those who have learned
much Torah should not want special recognition, since they were created exactly
for this purpose. (II:8) As further noted below, this week is connected to the sefirah
ofYesod and Joseph. In fact, the special recognition that Joseph received, and
which he himself felt he merited, created great problems for him in his
relationship with this brothers.
Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai perfectly represents the Oral Torah,
as well as the number six. His teaching is clearly related to the learning the
Oral Torah. Furthermore, he is portrayed in Pirkei Avot with five additional
students, making six in total. The praises he gives to his students are closely
related to their ability to receive the oral tradition from him. Finally,
Rabban Yochanan’s entire life story is about complete dedication to the Oral
Torah. He managed to escape the Roman siege of Jerusalem right before its
destruction, and set foot on a journey to establish a center for Jewish
scholars in Yavneh. There, he and other sages transmitted the Oral Torah and
ensured the survival of Judaism as a whole.
Rabban Yochanan son of Zakkai’s journey is also connected to the month
of Cheshvan, when we leave our introspective and purely spiritual pursuits and
delve into the material world in order to elevate it and to ensure our
survival. Similarly, he asks his students to "go out” and see which is the
proper path to way to take and which should be avoided. This request is also
connected with concept of going out of our state of introspection during the
month of Tishrei in order to engage in the material world and ensure our
livelihood.
This week’s sefirah combination is yesod shebechesed. This combination,
as well as the song of the songbird, reminds us of Joseph, who provided
sustenance for his entire family and for the rest of the world. He was the
viceroy of Egypt, in charge of all of the provisions of the empire. It was his
interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream that allowed for Egypt to stockpile its food
supplies, preempting a seven-year period of extreme famine that greatly
impacted the entire region. Joseph was the foundation of the good that all
others received, both physically and spiritually.
We can draw a precious lesson in self-improvement from the songbird. As
explained in the fourth week, we have an obligation to care for others besides
ourselves. The songbird teaches us that we must work to create a solid
foundation for our children and for all future generations, including one’s
students. This can serve as a great motivation for a person who is overwhelmed
by his or her own challenges.
[Gematria Thought: The number six represents the six orders of the Mishnah, of which the
Oral Torah is comprised. Like much of the Written Torah, most of the Mishnah is
about transmitting G-dly concepts in a manner that deeply involves the physical
realm, monetary damages, and criminal punishments. What happens when an ox
destroys neighboring property? What happens when two people claim to have
rights over the same piece of property? The Oral Torah goes a step further than
the Written Torah, giving specific examples and rulings, and analyzing such
cases with great minutiae. ]
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