Die Tora ist größer als das Priestertum und als das Königtum. Denn das Königtum wird mit dreißig Eminenzen und das Priestertum mit vierundzwanzig erworben, während die Tora mit achtundvierzig erworben wird. Sie sind: Lernen, das Hören des Ohrs, die Artikulation der Lippen, das Verstehen des Herzens, Intuition, Ehrfurcht, Angst, Demut, Freude, Anwesenheit bei den Weisen, die Prüfung der Freunde, die Dialektik der Jünger, mit Überlegungen, mit der Schrift, mit Mischna, mit Verminderung des Handels, des Schlafes, des Vergnügens, des Lachens (und) des Zusammenlebens, mit Geduld, mit Nachsicht, mit einem guten Herzen, mit Glauben an die Weisen und mit Akzeptanz von Bedrängnissen.
Rashi on Avot
Do not seek greatness: to run after power.
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
Do not seek greatness for yourself, and do not covet honor. The mishnah further warns that even when one has attained the status of being a learned person, he should not exalt himself over others, but rather remain faithful to his humble beginnings. Similarly, he should not seek honor for himself, meaning he should not learn in order that others will call him “Rabbi”.
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Derekh Chayim
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Rashi on Avot
and do not covet honor: to be honored for your Torah [knowledge]. As from this, you will appear as one who is is doing [it] not for its own sake.
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
Practice more than you learn. As great as his learning may be, he must remember to practice more that he has learned. The goal of learning is not knowledge for its own sake, but practice as well. We learned this above in chapter three, mishnah nine.
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Rashi on Avot
since your table is greater than their tables: This is [referring to] the reward that you will receive for the study of Torah. (Another textual variant) More than your study, do: More than that which you have studied, do good deeds and perform commandments, as we say (Avot 3:9), "Anyone whose actions are more plentiful than his wisdom, his wisdom endures."
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
Do not yearn for the table of kings, for your table is greater than their table, and your crown is greater than their crown, and faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor. The mishnah finishes with a warning, similar to that with which it began. One should not crave the wealth or power of kings, for the table of Torah is even greater than theirs. [Some explain this to mean that your reward in the world to come is greater than that of a king]. The crown of Torah is greater than the crown of kingship, as we learned above in chapter four, mishnah thirteen. Finally, God, who is truly the master (employer) of all human beings, is faithful to pay your reward in the world to come. While the king never truly knows what awaits him, a righteous Torah scholar can be confident that in the end, he will receive his just due.
