Description: Chapter 1 - 02
Pirkei Avos
Chapter 1 – 02
The Mishnah says that Moshe gave it over to Yehoshuah, and Yehoshuah transmitted it to the Zekainim. The Zekainim mentioned here, were people who could have been the direct receivers of the Torah from Moshe, they overlapped both Moshe and Yehoshuah, yet Moshe chose Yehoshuah as his successor, as directed by Hashem. Why?
Yehoshua had so faithfully served Moshe Rabbeinu, he was the "Naar Lo Yamish Metoch Haohel," the servant who didn't leave Moshe's tent. The Medrash adds that Yehoshua was so dedicated to Moshe Rabbeinu that he was the one to come first and leave last, he was the one who organized the benches and the mats in the Beis Medrash. Therefore – he should be the successor.
Chazal say something shocking. The medrash [Yalkut Mishlei Remez 959] says that Klal Yisrael had mocked Yehoshua's abilities! They called him a "Kesil" – this seems to imply that they mocked his intellect. Yet Yehoshua was the one who was zocheh to lead Klal Yisrael because he gave himself over totally to being the servant of Moshe.
I think that the word "Kesil" here might mean slightly different than the typical meaning. We find in Tehillim (78) the pasuk uses the word in a different context, "Vayasem Balokim Kislam", they put their full trust in Hashem. We see that the word "Kesil" can imply the full reliance on someone else, without needing to take initiative at all. I think that might be the understanding here, that the people called Yehoshua a "Kesil" because he didn't think for himself! He was totally subjugated to Moshe Rabbeinu's will and teachings. He thought whatever Moshe wanted him to think! He wasn't an independent thinker. Therefore, people mocked him. Yet Hashem said that precisely because of this attribute, he will be chosen to be the one to succeed Moshe Rabbeinu.
Rashi in Parshas Pinchas brings the Chazal which states that the face of Moshe was like the sun, and the face of Yehoshua was like the moon. The elders of that generation said, "Oy Le'oso Bushah, Oy Le'oso Klimah", woe to that embarrassment. What was the embarrassment? Was Yehoshua expected to be like Moshe exactly? The Chidah and the Chafetz Chaim explain this medrash differently. They say that the elders were lamenting themselves! They were saying, we are so embarrassed! Why? Because they could have achieved exactly what Yehoshua achieved! It wasn't any special abilities that he had that made him so great, nor was it any preexisting condition – it was simply because he dedicated himself to Moshe Rabbeinu fully and totally! Therefore, his face was like the moon which reflects the light of the sun. They said – we could have done this too! That is why they said woe to that embarrassment. (The word "Klimah, according to the Malbim connotes specifically remorse due to lack of utilizing an opportunity.)
This dedication to a Rebbe was something our Gedolim excelled at. They say that Rav Baruch Ber Zatzal went once to visit Rab Chaim, and saw that talmidim were waiting for him to arrive and were grumbling. He showed them Rav Chaim's desk, and said, I slept under this desk for years – because I didn't want to miss a moment with my Rebbe!
Pirkei Avos
Chapter 1 – 02
The Mishnah says that Moshe gave it over to Yehoshuah, and Yehoshuah transmitted it to the Zekainim. The Zekainim mentioned here, were people who could have been the direct receivers of the Torah from Moshe, they overlapped both Moshe and Yehoshuah, yet Moshe chose Yehoshuah as his successor, as directed by Hashem. Why?
Yehoshua had so faithfully served Moshe Rabbeinu, he was the "Naar Lo Yamish Metoch Haohel," the servant who didn't leave Moshe's tent. The Medrash adds that Yehoshua was so dedicated to Moshe Rabbeinu that he was the one to come first and leave last, he was the one who organized the benches and the mats in the Beis Medrash. Therefore – he should be the successor.
Chazal say something shocking. The medrash [Yalkut Mishlei Remez 959] says that Klal Yisrael had mocked Yehoshua's abilities! They called him a "Kesil" – this seems to imply that they mocked his intellect. Yet Yehoshua was the one who was zocheh to lead Klal Yisrael because he gave himself over totally to being the servant of Moshe.
I think that the word "Kesil" here might mean slightly different than the typical meaning. We find in Tehillim (78) the pasuk uses the word in a different context, "Vayasem Balokim Kislam", they put their full trust in Hashem. We see that the word "Kesil" can imply the full reliance on someone else, without needing to take initiative at all. I think that might be the understanding here, that the people called Yehoshua a "Kesil" because he didn't think for himself! He was totally subjugated to Moshe Rabbeinu's will and teachings. He thought whatever Moshe wanted him to think! He wasn't an independent thinker. Therefore, people mocked him. Yet Hashem said that precisely because of this attribute, he will be chosen to be the one to succeed Moshe Rabbeinu.
Rashi in Parshas Pinchas brings the Chazal which states that the face of Moshe was like the sun, and the face of Yehoshua was like the moon. The elders of that generation said, "Oy Le'oso Bushah, Oy Le'oso Klimah", woe to that embarrassment. What was the embarrassment? Was Yehoshua expected to be like Moshe exactly? The Chidah and the Chafetz Chaim explain this medrash differently. They say that the elders were lamenting themselves! They were saying, we are so embarrassed! Why? Because they could have achieved exactly what Yehoshua achieved! It wasn't any special abilities that he had that made him so great, nor was it any preexisting condition – it was simply because he dedicated himself to Moshe Rabbeinu fully and totally! Therefore, his face was like the moon which reflects the light of the sun. They said – we could have done this too! That is why they said woe to that embarrassment. (The word "Klimah, according to the Malbim connotes specifically remorse due to lack of utilizing an opportunity.)
This dedication to a Rebbe was something our Gedolim excelled at. They say that Rav Baruch Ber Zatzal went once to visit Rab Chaim, and saw that talmidim were waiting for him to arrive and were grumbling. He showed them Rav Chaim's desk, and said, I slept under this desk for years – because I didn't want to miss a moment with my Rebbe!