Pirkei Avot Chapter 5 and Hod

The fifth chapter in Pirkei Avot teaches us the purpose of this physical arena and the extent that Hashem miraculously tends to each one's affairs so that we will be able to aim towards and reach this goal. One who yearns to reach this heavenly purpose, establishes and directs their personal life to a G-dly purpose and deep meaning in each thought, spoken word, and act.

One who places themselves in this focused emotional state, realizes that the creation, with all its minutest details, is actually created and governed by its Creator and Designer. Holiness and spirituality is imbued within nature, albeit veiled. This factor is the main trigger for confusion and darkness. We do not see the truth and light in each situation. We must dig deep, and many times with vigorous energy, to reveal some light. We know this as hod- humility and tolerance. We must put our own agenda off to the side and work with all the faculties of the physical/emotional/psychological/biological temperaments while directing them towards its true drive.

Hod is the guard against egoism, the possible negative danger of netzach. Here, instead of 'winning' or overpowering and subduing the other – we accept, embrace with love, and help another heal. Netzach gives us patience and resilience; coupled and harmonizing with humility, lovingly embracing others, while aiming towards our G-dly goal.

Humility brings us to a point where we are acknowledging and thankful for all the basic gifts Hashem gives us each day to function. “Modeh ani”– as soon as I admit and say thank you to Hashem for my basic life and soul, then, ”Ani lefonecho” – I am before You. Hashem is with us throughout the day. Hashem gives us the mission - He gives us the power and He gives us the promise that He will be with us through our duties.

Pirkei Avot is recited the first day of Av which is the day of Aharon Hakohen’s passing, and which exemplifies the attribute of hod. He was able to see the truth in each one--even if there were two people arguing with each other, he radiated humility and loved peace. Aharon pursued peace and knew the art of communication with each one, bringing them closer to their purpose – Torah.

The first Mishna tells us that Hashem created the world with 10 utterances. Hashem is Infinite. He could have created the entire cosmos with only one word!? For the sake of argument, what would have been if the world was created with only one utterance? The world would have only one dimension. One dimension does not allow for diversity or variations. Hashem wanted a beautiful world, with a myriad of colors and personalities. Each one of us has a contribution to make and the entire cosmos is waiting for each contribution. No one is a duplicate or replaceable. Trust the One who delegates and trust yourself!! What greater compliment and honor can one receive!

The Mishna says that Avraham Avinu was tested with ten tests to show us the degree of love Hashem had for him. The more we are committed to learn from Avraham Avinu and live our lives accordingly, the stronger this love intensifies. He is our 'father' and he passes on all his qualities to each of us and all the Yiden.

We read of the ten plagues to the Egyptians. This land was known for its vulgarity and immodesty. They are barbaric and has no human standards of morality. Hashem was with us during this entire time and watched over each one of the Yiden. These tiny babies hid in the fields, and amazingly got milk and honey for their growth and nutrition. Today, we also see these horrific acts in the news. The fact is that these children were the first to recognize Hashem when they crossed the sea. They pointed with their finger and said, “This is my G-d and I will honor Him.” This is the way our people were formed with Hashem watching over us in every situation – even against the deathly decrees from Pharaoh.

Today, we each have our own 'Pharaoh’ and ‘Egypt.' Life based on the laws of nature while defying reliance on Hashem as a sole provider is Egyptian philosophy. We must know to identify these subtle factors in our personal life and see them for what they are.

The fact remains that Batya, the daughter of the tyrant Pharaoh saved Moshe Rabbeinu, the redeemer of the Yiden. Moshe Rabbeinu was growing up in the very palace of this tyrant and yet it was Pharaoh who decided against killing Moshe when he was a young child, taking his crown to put on his own Egyptian head. When we see all these protective and miraculous measures from Hashem towards His people we say, ”What greater protection is there?! What better proof is there in seeing that Hashem is with us?!”

Pirkei Avot Chapter 5 goes on to enumerate those ten obvious miracles obvious which were recognized each day in the times of the Beit Hamikdash. One of these miracles was that a pregnant woman never had a miscarriage. Take a moment to think about the extent of Hashem caring about each child, even in the mother's womb! Hashem loves and cares for each one even before they are born! All the more so, He protects after the child is born, and to a further extent, He continues to protect once this person is an adult. Hashem takes utter responsibility to all the millions of others who are alive and those hundreds of generations who lived in the past.

This chapter is usually said the week of the 15th of Av, the day we commemorate several historic events. The first time this date became important is when the Yiden sinned with misinterpreting the land of Eretz Yisrael. They sent spies to bring a report of this land. They perverted the facts and their punishment was that they would remain in the desert for 40 years. Each year, 15,000 died so at the end of forty years, all 600,000 who left Mitzrayim were not alive to enter Eretz Yisrael.

Each year, on the day of their return, 9th of Av, they would dig and prepare their own graves and in the morning they realized that 15000 were not with them. This continued each year, until the last person. Then on the 10th of Av, all woke up and all were alive! And from the 11th AV all were alive and this continued until the 15th. On the 9th of Av they thought maybe a mistake was made with the date, but, when they saw the full moon, they realized that no mistake had been made. They were sure that they could now enter Eretz Yisrael. The decree? Over! The desert life? Over! The sin of slander on Eretz Yisrael? Forgiven!

And they celebrated.

This scenario has an incredible and remarkable message for us. We might think that this occurred thousands of years ago because since then, no one is digging their own graves.

Yet let us think again.

How many times do we hear from acquaintances that we are in golut and exile for so many hundreds of years? We hear it said, “This is the life we know; this is our habitual routine.” “This is the way I grew up; this is what my parents and grandparents taught me.” “Let us continue doing what we have always done!”

Here the celebration of the 15th Av declares: Leave golut and exile behind!!

Let us learn to accept the notion of a new life – a Geulah mentality.

Golut is over and never to return. So what will I do if not settle disputes between children? Worry over the money I wished I had to paint the house? Pay the bill for the water someone else wasted? Get through to my neighbor's obnoxious behavior and her wet laundry will finally stop dripping on my porch, especially if I just cleaned it “spic and span”?!

We have finished 'living in our graves' of anxiety and tension. We must learn to say that anger/frustration/jealously/void of holiness is behind and ended. These resentments and disappointments only bury us in guilt. It is time to say good-bye to these negativities! Stop digging yourself a grave. Get up in the morning and greet a new life – bright new illuminations of this Geulah era.

Are you ready to sing 'and with simcha you will leave (golut) – כי בשמחה תצאו – harmonizing with the trumpets?

Zlata Eherenstein, 2024