Comentario sobre 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 dice: Sé audaz como un leopardo, [... y no te avergüences de preguntarle a tu rabino lo que no has entendido, como hemos aprendido: "El tímido no aprende"], y liviano como un águila [a perseguir su aprendizaje y no cansarse, como está escrito (Isaías 40:31): "Levantarán el ala como águilas; correrán y no se cansarán"], y veloces como un ciervo [para perseguir mitzvoth], y fuertes como un león [para someter tu inclinación al mal contra la transgresión], para hacer la voluntad de tu Padre Celestial. Solía decir: "La 'cara descarada' de Gehinnom" [Esta expresión se usa porque la descarada se ve en la cara, a saber. (Proverbios 21:19): "El hombre malvado es descarado en su rostro"], y el 'rostro avergonzado' a Gan Eden. "Que sea tu voluntad, OLD nuestro Dios que construyas tu ciudad apresuradamente en nuestros días y danos (nuestra parte) en Tu Torá. [Es decir, así como nos has otorgado este rasgo (de vergüenza), los signos de la simiente de Abraham son vergüenza, misericordia y misericordia, así que que sea tu voluntad, etc.]
Tosafot Yom Tov on Pirkei Avot
THE BRAZEN [lit. “strong of face”] END IN GEHINNOM. For he brazenly violates the will of his Father in Heaven. Rav writes that brazen people are called “strong of face” based on the verse in Proverbs 21:29, “an evil man’s brazenness is on his face.” And the verse says, “the wicked will return to Sheol” (Psalms 9:18).
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot
Yehudah ben Teimah says, etc. Be brazen like the leopard to rebuke those that commit sins; and to be much involved in Torah. 'You will not grow weary and grow faint.' And so did Yishayahu state (Isaiah 40:31), "But they who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength." When they grow weary, those that hope in the Lord shall have their strength increased and will renew it to be a new strength for them, [with which] to do the work of the Lord still longer.
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Rambam on Pirkei Avot
Even though he said, "[the] brazen-faced [are bound] for Gehinnom (Purgatory), he commanded brazenness in the rebuke of rebels and similar to it. And it is as if he said, "Use a little of the vices in their [correct] place for the will of God, may He be blessed, and His truth." [And it is] like the statement of the prophet (II Samuel 22:27), "and with the perverse, You are wily." However [it is] on condition that your intention is the truth; and that is [the meaning of] his saying, "to do the Will of your Father Who is in Heaven." And from the good things that God, may He be blessed, did for this nation is that they are shamefaced. And so [too], they said (Yevamot 79a) that the signs of the seed of Avraham is that they are shamefaced, merciful and doers of kindnesses. And it stated (Exodus 20:17), "so that My awe be upon your faces, that you not sin." And when he told about the virtues of shame, he requested and said, "Lord, our God - [just] like You have graced us with this virtue, so [too] grace us that Your city be rebuilt, speedily and in our days."
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Ikar Tosafot Yom Tov on Pirkei Avot
"[The] brazen-faced [are bound] for Gehinnom (Purgatory)": as he makes his face brazen not to do the will of his Father in heaven.
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Bartenura on Pirkei Avot
"Be brazen like the leopard": This leopard is born from a wild boar and a lioness. As when it is the season for lions to be in heat, the lioness inserts its head into the brush of the forest and moans and summons the male, but [sometimes] the boar hears its voice and copulates [with] it and a leopard comes out from [the combination of] the two of them. And because it a bastard, it is brazen-faced, even though it does not have so much courage. You too, be brazen and do not be ashamed to ask your teacher what you did not understand, like that which we have learned, "one that is ashamed will not learn."
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
Introduction
From the fact that this mishnah ends in a short prayer, it can be concluded that it was originally the last mishnah in the tractate. The remaining mishnayoth in this chapter, and all of chapter six are addenda added in post-Mishnaic times (I will discuss chapter six later).
Judah ben Tema is not mentioned anywhere else in the Mishnah.
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Derekh Chayim
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Tosafot Yom Tov on Pirkei Avot
BASHFUL PEOPLE [lit. having shame in the face] END IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. As the Sages say in the Talmud, Nedarim 20a, “one who is bashful will not easily sin, as per the verse ‘in order that fear of Him be upon your faces, that you not sin’ (Exodus 20:17)”—Midrash Shmuel in the name of Rabbenu Ephraim.
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot
light like the eagle: "Grow new wings like the eagles."
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Ikar Tosafot Yom Tov on Pirkei Avot
And it is stated, "May the evildoers return to the grave."
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Bartenura on Pirkei Avot
"light like the eagle": to pursue after your studies. And you will not get exhausted, as it is written (Isaiah 40:31), "they shall raise wings like eagles, they will run and not be exhausted."
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
Judah ben Tema said: Be strong as a leopard, and swift as an eagle, and fleet as a gazelle, and brave as a lion, to do the will of your Father who is in heaven. Judah ben Tema uses images that are taken from the animal world. He at first seems to be making statements about a man’s physical strength. These statements would sound more appropriate in the Greek gymnasium than in the rabbinic study house. It is only at the end of his statement that we learn that these physical attributes are to be used for following God’s will and not for human glory. Strong like a leopard to stand up against people who denounce those who observe the Torah. Others say that this refers to the strength needed to rebuke those who don’t observe the commandments. Swift as an eagle to run away from sin. Others say this refers to ministering to Torah scholars, which should be performed with great speed. Fleet as a gazelle to perform the commandments. Others say that this refers to moving to a place where one can study Torah. Brave as a lion to conquer one’s evil inclination. Others say that this refers to getting up at night to learn Torah.
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot
swift like the deer: He wants to say, "They shall run and not grow weary." Other people get worn out when they run, but they do not get worn for the matter of a commandment. And so [too], towards the matter of a commandment, "they shall march and not grow faint." As [with] other people, when one walks more than what he [generally] walks during the day, he is faint and grows weary.
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Ikar Tosafot Yom Tov on Pirkei Avot
and [the] shamefaced [are bound] for the Garden of Eden: As the sages, of blessed memory, said, "Any man that has shamefacedness will not quickly sin, as it is written (Exodus 20:17), 'and in order that His fear will be on your faces, so that you not sin'" - Midrash Shmuel.
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Bartenura on Pirkei Avot
"swift like the deer": to run towards the commandments.
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
He used to say: the arrogant is headed for Gehinnom and the blushing for the garden of Eden. The word “arrogant” in Hebrew is the same word used in section one to mean “strong”. Although one should be strong, this is only so if the strength is used for holy purposes, for the sake of Heaven. However, arrogance, which is unjustified demonstrations of strength, leads one to despise those who might legitimately criticize him. An arrogant person will not check his deeds to make sure that he is acting correctly. One who is embarrassed and blushes at his mistakes, will learn from them and will not continue to sin. Judaism does not seek out perfection, but rather moral progress. One who is capable of such embarrassment will, in the end, inherit the garden of Eden.
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot
and mighty like the lion to become stronger towards the commandments. [This is] to say that all of his thought and the actions of his limbs be for the act of God.
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Bartenura on Pirkei Avot
"and mighty like the lion": to conquer your impulse from [the doing of] sins.
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
May it be the will, O Lord our God, that your city be rebuilt speedily in our days and set our portion in the studying of your Torah. According to the Rambam, after having spoken of the virtue of blushing, the mishnah utters a prayer: O our God, even as in Your grace You have bestowed upon us this virtue, so be gracious unto us and have Your city rebuilt speedily in our days.
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot
to do the Will of your Father Who is in Heaven: [This is] to say, so long as it is [in order] to do the Will of your Father Who is in Heaven.
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Bartenura on Pirkei Avot
"brazen-faced": Since brazenness is noticeable in the face, as it is written (Proverbs 21:29), "The brazenness of an evil man is in his face": therefore he is called brazen-faced.
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot
brazen-faced: King Shlomo, peace be upon him, stated (Proverbs 14:9), "Guilt intercedes for fools" - as the evil fool will speak about the ugly thing and the guilty thing in a person when he sees them. [That is] like those imbeciles that said, "How foul is that carcass!" But, "among the upright, good will" - they only speak about the praise and the good will. It is like the wise man said [regarding the same carcass], "How white are its teeth!"
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Bartenura on Pirkei Avot
"that Your city be rebuilt, speedily and in our days": Meaning to say, in the same way that You have graced us with this trait - since it is a sign [of people being] of the seed of Abraham that they are [easily] ashamed, merciful and doers of acts of loving-kindness (Yevamot 79a) - so may it be Your will that Your city be rebuilt, etc.
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