Description: Chapter 1 - 09
Pirkei Avos
Chapter 1 – 09
The fifth Mishnah in the first perek says:
יוסי בן יוחנן איש ירושלים אומר: יהי ביתך פתוח לרוחה ויהיו עניים בני ביתך
Yosi ben Yochanan Ish Yerushalayim said your house should be wide open for guests, and poor people should be your household.
Yosi ben Yochanan is teaching us how to do chesed. In contrast to Yosi ben Yoezer of the previous Mishnah who said that your house should be a ‘beis vaad la’chachamim,’ a gathering place for talmidei chachamim, Yosi ben Yochanan is telling us to have poor people as our houseguests. Both Torah and chesed are inseparable parts of Avodas Hashem, as Shimon Hatzadik told us originally, the world stands on Torah and Gemilas Chasadim. They both are teaching us, that Torah and chesed can’t be something that occurs only outside of the house, when it is convenient for us to attend a shiur, or to do a chesed. Both of them have to become the definition of what our house is all about.
According to Yosi ben Yoezer, a house of Torah is a place where talmidei chachamim feel comfortable, where they always turn to, where gatherings of talmidei chachamim take place. This would only occur in a house of someone who puts Torah above all else, and his house is simply available whenever they need him! My father would tell me of one of his friend’s father, Mr. Felsenberg a”h, who was a talmid of Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl zatzal, my father’s rebbi. Whenever Rav Michoel Ber needed his help, whether fund raising, or help with legalities, or organizing something for the Yeshiva – he was available. It didn’t make a difference what was going on, in his business or otherwise – he made himself available. That is true Kavod Hatorah, someone whose house revolves around Torah. This is what is meant that your house should be a Beis Vaad for Chachamim.
Yosi ben Yochanan is teaching us the same dictum regarding chesed as well. First, we should keep our house wide open for guests, so that people should feel comfortable coming to us. When they see that the door is open and welcoming, and the hosts are truly happy that they are coming – the guests will be comfortable coming. This is the meaning of ‘li’ravachah,’ it should be open wide, like when we drive down a wide road, it is easy driving, with nothing making us anxious or nervous or concerned. Once our guests arrive, the next step is that they should be made feel like – ‘bnei beisacheh,’ members of your household. They should be treated with such respect and love, that they feel as if they belong. This is the hallmark of a true house of chesed, the house of Avraham Avinu.
This is the gold standard of Torah and Chesed we can only aspire to. Even people who learn Torah all day, don’t necessarily have their house as a house of Torah, a household where nothing takes precedence over Torah. Having a house of chesed is very different than going out and doing chesed, while of course doing tzedakah and chesed is of paramount importance, having a house of chesed is a whole different level – it is internalizing chesed and making so much a part of ourselves, that it is what our house revolves around.
Pirkei Avos
Chapter 1 – 09
The fifth Mishnah in the first perek says:
יוסי בן יוחנן איש ירושלים אומר: יהי ביתך פתוח לרוחה ויהיו עניים בני ביתך
Yosi ben Yochanan Ish Yerushalayim said your house should be wide open for guests, and poor people should be your household.
Yosi ben Yochanan is teaching us how to do chesed. In contrast to Yosi ben Yoezer of the previous Mishnah who said that your house should be a ‘beis vaad la’chachamim,’ a gathering place for talmidei chachamim, Yosi ben Yochanan is telling us to have poor people as our houseguests. Both Torah and chesed are inseparable parts of Avodas Hashem, as Shimon Hatzadik told us originally, the world stands on Torah and Gemilas Chasadim. They both are teaching us, that Torah and chesed can’t be something that occurs only outside of the house, when it is convenient for us to attend a shiur, or to do a chesed. Both of them have to become the definition of what our house is all about.
According to Yosi ben Yoezer, a house of Torah is a place where talmidei chachamim feel comfortable, where they always turn to, where gatherings of talmidei chachamim take place. This would only occur in a house of someone who puts Torah above all else, and his house is simply available whenever they need him! My father would tell me of one of his friend’s father, Mr. Felsenberg a”h, who was a talmid of Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl zatzal, my father’s rebbi. Whenever Rav Michoel Ber needed his help, whether fund raising, or help with legalities, or organizing something for the Yeshiva – he was available. It didn’t make a difference what was going on, in his business or otherwise – he made himself available. That is true Kavod Hatorah, someone whose house revolves around Torah. This is what is meant that your house should be a Beis Vaad for Chachamim.
Yosi ben Yochanan is teaching us the same dictum regarding chesed as well. First, we should keep our house wide open for guests, so that people should feel comfortable coming to us. When they see that the door is open and welcoming, and the hosts are truly happy that they are coming – the guests will be comfortable coming. This is the meaning of ‘li’ravachah,’ it should be open wide, like when we drive down a wide road, it is easy driving, with nothing making us anxious or nervous or concerned. Once our guests arrive, the next step is that they should be made feel like – ‘bnei beisacheh,’ members of your household. They should be treated with such respect and love, that they feel as if they belong. This is the hallmark of a true house of chesed, the house of Avraham Avinu.
This is the gold standard of Torah and Chesed we can only aspire to. Even people who learn Torah all day, don’t necessarily have their house as a house of Torah, a household where nothing takes precedence over Torah. Having a house of chesed is very different than going out and doing chesed, while of course doing tzedakah and chesed is of paramount importance, having a house of chesed is a whole different level – it is internalizing chesed and making so much a part of ourselves, that it is what our house revolves around.