Mishnah
Mishnah

Commentary for Pirkei Avot 5:20

יְהוּדָה בֶן תֵּימָא אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי עַז כַּנָּמֵר, וְקַל כַּנֶּשֶׁר, וְרָץ כַּצְּבִי, וְגִבּוֹר כָּאֲרִי, לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן אָבִיךָ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמָיִם. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַז פָּנִים לְגֵיהִנֹּם, וּבֹשֶׁת פָּנִים לְגַן עֵדֶן. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁתִּבְנֶה עִירְךָ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ וְתֵן חֶלְקֵנוּ בְתוֹרָתֶךָ:

Yehudah ben Tema says: Be audacious as a leopard, […and do not be ashamed to ask your Rabbi what you have not understood, as we have learned: "The shy one does not learn"], and light as an eagle [to pursue your learning and not weary, as it is written (Isaiah 40:31): "They will lift the wing like eagles; they will run and not weary"], and swift as a deer [to pursue mitzvoth], and strong as a lion [to subdue your evil inclination against transgressing], to do the will of your Father in Heaven. He was wont to say: "The 'brazen-faced' to Gehinnom" [This expression is used because brazenness is seen in the face, viz. (Proverbs 21:19): "The wicked man is brazen in his face"], and the 'shame-faced' to Gan Eden." May it be Your will, O L rd our G-d that You build Your city hastily in our days and give (us) our portion in Your Torah. [That is, just as You have granted us this trait (of shame-facedness), the signs of the seed of Abraham being shame-facedness, mercy, and lovingkindness, so, may it be Your will, etc.]

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