Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter One

1. Moses received the Torah from Sinai and gave it over to Joshua. Joshua gave it over to the Elders, the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets gave it over to the Men of the Great Assembly. They [the Men of the Great Assembly] would always say these three things: Be cautious in judgement. Establish many pupils. And make a safety fence around the Torah.

2. Shimon the Righteous was among the last surviving members of the Great assembly. He would say: The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G‑d, and deeds of kindness.

3. Antignos of Socho received the tradition from Shimon the Righteous. He would say: Do not be as slaves, who serve their master for the sake of reward. Rather, be as slaves who serve their master not for the sake of reward. And the fear of Heaven should be upon you.

4. Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah, and Yossei the son of Yochanan of Jerusalem, received the tradition from them. Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah would say: Let your home be a meeting place for the wise; dust yourself in the soil of their feet, and drink thirstily of their words.

5. Yossei the son of Yochanan of Jerusalem would say: Let your home be wide open, and let the poor be members of your household. And do not engage in excessive conversation with a woman. This is said even regarding one's own wife—how much more so regarding the wife of another. Hence, the sages said: One who excessively converses with a woman causes evil to himself, neglects the study of Torah, and, in the end, inherits purgatory.

6. Joshua the son of Perachia and Nitai the Arbelite received from them. Joshua the son of Perachia would say: Assume for yourself a master, acquire for yourself a friend, and judge every man to the side of merit.

7. Nitai the Arbelite would say: Distance yourself from a bad neighbor, do not cleave to a wicked person, and do not abandon belief in retribution.

8. Judah the son of Tabbai and Shimon the son of Shotach received from them. Judah the son of Tabbai would say: When sitting in judgement, do not act as a counselor-at-law. When the litigants stand before you, consider them both guilty; and when they leave your courtroom, having accepted the judgement, regard them as equally righteous.

9. Shimon the son of Shotach would say: Increasingly cross-examine the witnesses. Be careful with your words, lest they learn from them how to lie.

10. Shmaayah and Avtalyon received from them. Shmaayah would say: Love work, loath mastery over others, and avoid intimacy with the government.

11. Avtalyon would say: Scholars, be careful with your words. For you may be exiled to a place inhabited by evil elements [who will distort your words to suit their negative purposes]. The disciples who come after you will then drink of these evil waters and be destroyed, and the Name of Heaven will be desecrated.

12. Hillel and Shammai received from them. Hillel would say: Be of the disciples of Aaron—a lover of peace, a pursuer of peace, one who loves the creatures and draws them close to Torah.

13. He would also say: One who advances his name, destroys his name. One who does not increase, diminishes. One who does not learn is deserving of death. And one who make personal use of the crown of Torah shall perish.

14. He would also say: If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

15. Shammai would say: Make your Torah study a permanent fixture of your life. Say little and do much. And receive every man with a pleasant countenance.

16. Rabban Gamliel would say: Assume for yourself a master; stay away from doubt; and do not accustom yourself to tithe by estimation.

17. His son, Shimon, would say: All my life I have been raised among the wise, and I have found nothing better for the body than silence. The essential thing is not study, but deed. And one who speaks excessively brings on sin.

18. Rabbi Shimon the son of Gamliel would say: By three things is the world sustained: law, truth and peace. As is stated (Zachariah 8:16), "Truth, and a judgement of peace, you should administer at your [city] gates.''

It is a Jewish custom to study the text of 'Ethics of the Fathers' from the Mishnah on long summer Saturday afternoons. It is great insight into some traditional history and culture of the Jews.

Thank you, Mishna is interesting.

One stray thought among many: this is the first time I have seen a Jewish reference to "purgatory." Could you tell me (in simple terms!) that it means?

I know very little about Hebrew. I had heard that there were two distinct words, "Sheol" and "Gehinnom", the first indicating a rather shadowy survival of the soul in an undefined "resting with your ancestors," whereas Gehinnom indicated a fiery destiny of punishment. The latter word was based on an ancient waste-area outside of Jerusalem, kind of a valley/landfill where animal corpses and other kinds of trash were burned.

Is that accurate?

I thought Gehenna was in the New Testament several times.

The thought is that Hinnom was probably someone’s name. The word ‘gei’ (gay) means valley.

No reward or discomfort attaches to Sheol.

According to Jewish tradition, the soul must spend some time purifying itself before it can enter heaven. The ‘place’ where the soul is purified is called Gehinnom. It’s not really punishment, though it is uncomfortable, like going through a washing machine.

Some people have a very easy time of it while others feel shame and anxiety for up to a year.

That’s the traditional understanding.

Thanks --- that's what I was looking for.

Yes, my understanding is that "Gehenna" (however it's spelled) came from "Valley of Hinnom" south of Jerusalem.

Moral or spiritual cleansing is the Catholic understanding of what happens in the place (or rather, the state) of Purgatory --- a word that means, literally, purification.

Going through a washing machine sounds like a good description. It's the sort of suffering which is ultimately therapeutic, like the healing of a body of broken bones. The souls there are not in despair, they're hopeful.

When my boys were kids, I explained it was like having tar scoured off of you with a scrubbing pad. Not pleasant, but you know you'll the shiny and sparkly afterwards. :o)

Yes it is. It is the valley that is south of the Temple Mount. The gate that enters and exits to the Western Wall compound is called the Dung Gate because that is where the city inhabitants threw their refuse. As you can imagine, it piled up through the centuries. In ancient times, they burned it, just like they do modern landfills in some areas. Literally, the burning pit referred to as the “Valley of Gehenna” is the same anology used in the New Testament as burning in Hell. It also was where children were sacrificed in the burning pits in the earlier years.

Think of the reference of Lazarus and the rich man. When he looked over the chasm, he could see Abraham, and asked Abraham to tell his brothers. Abraham advised him that they had all that they needed to know (as we all do.)

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