In The Paths of Our Fathers: Chapter Two

He Said To Them: "Go And See Which Is The Good Way To Which A Man Should Cleave."

Rabbi Eliezer Said: "A Good Eye"; Rabbi Yehoshua Said: "A Good Friend"; Rabbi Yosay Said: "A Good Neighbor"; Rabbi Shimon Said: "One Who Sees The Consequences [Of His Actions]"; Rabbi Elazar Said: "A Good Heart."

[RABBAN YOCHANAN BEN ZAKKAI] SAID TO THEM: "I PREFER THE WORDS OF ELAZAR BEN ARACH TO ALL OF YOURS, FOR IN HIS WORDS YOURS ARE INCLUDED."

He Said To Them: "Go And See Which Is The Evil Path From Which A Man Should Keep Far Away."

Rabbi Eliezer Said: "An Evil Eye"; Rabbi Yehoshua Said: "A Wicked Friend"; Rabbi Yosay Said: "A Wicked Neighbor"; Rabbi Shimon Said: "He Who Borrows And Does Not Repay, Since One Who Borrows From Man Is As One Who Borrows From G-D, As It Is Stated:[34] 'The Wicked One Borrows And Does Not Repay, But The Righteous Acts Graciously And Gives.' " Rabbi Elazar Said: "A Wicked Heart."

[RABBAN YOCHANAN BEN ZAKKAI] SAID TO THEM: "I PREFER THE WORDS OF ELAZAR BEN ARACH TO ALL OF YOURS, FOR IN HIS WORDS YOURS ARE INCLUDED."

They [Each] Said Three Things. Rabbi Eliezer Said: "Cherish The Honor Of Your Colleague As Your Own, And Do Not Be Easily Angered. Repent One Day Before Your Death.

"Warm Yourself By The Fire Of The Sages, But Beware Of Their Glowing Embers Lest You Be Burnt, For Their Bite Is The Bite Of A Fox, Their Sting Is The Sting Of A Scorpion, Their Hiss Is The Hiss Of A Serpent, And All Their Words Are Like Fiery Coals."

Rabbi Shimon Said: "One Who Sees The Consequences [Of His Actions]"

This statement relates to Rabbi Yochanan's description of Rabbi Shimon as sin-fearing. Because he saw the consequences of his actions, he was not vulnerable to the temptations of his yetzer hora. He realized that sin would weaken his bond with G-d, and therefore was willing to forego the immediate benefits of indulgence in order to safeguard the lasting virtue of that bond.

One might ask, however, why Rabbi Shimon used the expression "sees the consequences." Why didn't he say "comprehends the consequences"? The answer is that the lures of the yetzer hora are very attractive, and sometimes appetite is more powerful than intellect. Moreover, the yetzer hora is crafty,[35] and offers rationalizations that enable a person to feel he is doing the right thing although he sins. A person whose awareness of the consequences of sin is merely intellectual may be swayed by such rationalizations. When, however, a person "sees" the consequences, i.e., when his conception is so powerful that it is as if he sees the consequences with his eyes, he will refuse to allow his connection with G-d to be weakened at any time.

(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IV, p. 1198ff)

Rabbi Eliezer Said: "Cherish The Honor Of Your Colleague As Your Own"

Rabbi Eliezer possessed far greater knowledge than his colleagues. Indeed, his colleagues would refer to him as Rabbi Eliezer the Great and as "Sinai,"[36] indicating their recognition of him as the repository of our Torah heritage. Despite his greatness, he appreciated the need to cherish the honor of others.

(Sefer HaSichos 5748, Vol. II, p. 563)

Notes:

(Back to text) Tehillim 37:21.

(Back to text) Shabbos 100b.

(Back to text) See Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:3 (1).