Page 80 - issue
P. 80
that he meant not to feel I have to do ev- plete the work; you are merely obligated can, what depends on us. Then, at some
erything, but there are a number of other to engage. Not only are you not obligated point, we have to say that we did what we
important lessons from this mishna. to complete the work, but the comple- could, and the rest is in Hashem’s hands.
tion of the work is not even in our hands
There are, in fact, two mishnayos but in Hashem’s. “The Chofetz Chaim We are not required to be an expert,
from Rabbi Tarfon. The first, very well had a saying: ‘Our task is to act, to do. just to work consistently. We don’t need
known, is “The day is short and the work The results – to carry out and achieve – to have a finished task; we just need to do
is abundant…” meaning that one should are the business of the Creator.’ When what we can.
live with the sense of the tremendous sea something has to be done, there is not
of Torah for us to acquire. This should a need to strive insistently to carry it out We don’t have to do all the work our-
motivate us to work hard, but one could splendidly. The main thing is to get the selves (from lo alecha, not upon you in
argue that a person will never be able to matter done.” (The Hafetz Hayyim on the mishna). We can recruit collabora-
accomplish everything, so why even try. Pirkei Avoth).” This mishna has many tors, babysitters, cleaning ladies, stu-
applications to how we live our lives. dents, family members, etc. to help. The
The next mishna therefore continues Some of them are: goal is to get the work done, not neces-
with the necessary accompaniment: “He sarily to do it singlehandedly.
[Rabbi Tarfon] used to say: It is not up In general, we can’t do everything,
to you to complete the task, (Lo alecha but we cannot use this as an excuse to Even in performing mitzvos, we must
hamelacha ligmor) but you are not free do nothing. keep doing. We must daven even if we
to desist from it.” The first mishna is can’t achieve great kavana. Our cha-
supposed to stir us to action but can lead We can’t guarantee accomplishment chamim gave us mitzvos to do and keep
to a sense of frustration and futility. The or balance everything perfectly. There doing, even if we can’t do them lishma.
work is greater than a man could do even may be obstacles preventing our accom- It is our job not to withhold from per-
if he lived for a thousand years! In this plishment. We may prepare and then find forming these mitzvos even when we
mishna, Rabbi Tarfon responds to this that some slip prevents us from achiev- can’t achieve a perfect job.
difficulty and expresses profound ideas ing what we wanted. We or our children
that have a great implication for our own may study hard for a test and then get So many of the things we do in life
lives today. stumped by the questions or make care- have no end, yet we must keep repeating
less mistakes. We have to do what we them. We must prepare meals day in and
That is, you are not obligated to com- day out with no end to it. We can’t ex-
ercise for several months and then stop,
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erything, but there are a number of other to engage. Not only are you not obligated point, we have to say that we did what we
important lessons from this mishna. to complete the work, but the comple- could, and the rest is in Hashem’s hands.
tion of the work is not even in our hands
There are, in fact, two mishnayos but in Hashem’s. “The Chofetz Chaim We are not required to be an expert,
from Rabbi Tarfon. The first, very well had a saying: ‘Our task is to act, to do. just to work consistently. We don’t need
known, is “The day is short and the work The results – to carry out and achieve – to have a finished task; we just need to do
is abundant…” meaning that one should are the business of the Creator.’ When what we can.
live with the sense of the tremendous sea something has to be done, there is not
of Torah for us to acquire. This should a need to strive insistently to carry it out We don’t have to do all the work our-
motivate us to work hard, but one could splendidly. The main thing is to get the selves (from lo alecha, not upon you in
argue that a person will never be able to matter done.” (The Hafetz Hayyim on the mishna). We can recruit collabora-
accomplish everything, so why even try. Pirkei Avoth).” This mishna has many tors, babysitters, cleaning ladies, stu-
applications to how we live our lives. dents, family members, etc. to help. The
The next mishna therefore continues Some of them are: goal is to get the work done, not neces-
with the necessary accompaniment: “He sarily to do it singlehandedly.
[Rabbi Tarfon] used to say: It is not up In general, we can’t do everything,
to you to complete the task, (Lo alecha but we cannot use this as an excuse to Even in performing mitzvos, we must
hamelacha ligmor) but you are not free do nothing. keep doing. We must daven even if we
to desist from it.” The first mishna is can’t achieve great kavana. Our cha-
supposed to stir us to action but can lead We can’t guarantee accomplishment chamim gave us mitzvos to do and keep
to a sense of frustration and futility. The or balance everything perfectly. There doing, even if we can’t do them lishma.
work is greater than a man could do even may be obstacles preventing our accom- It is our job not to withhold from per-
if he lived for a thousand years! In this plishment. We may prepare and then find forming these mitzvos even when we
mishna, Rabbi Tarfon responds to this that some slip prevents us from achiev- can’t achieve a perfect job.
difficulty and expresses profound ideas ing what we wanted. We or our children
that have a great implication for our own may study hard for a test and then get So many of the things we do in life
lives today. stumped by the questions or make care- have no end, yet we must keep repeating
less mistakes. We have to do what we them. We must prepare meals day in and
That is, you are not obligated to com- day out with no end to it. We can’t ex-
ercise for several months and then stop,
Veggie & Fruit
Subscription
Now Taking
Reservations
for Summer
©WWW
www.calvertfarm.com
410-658-3914
Over 20 Years Of Growing Fine
Fruits & Veggies
72 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
