Monday, July 22, 2013
Ethics of our Fathers: Chapter 1 Mishna 7: Having a connection to Bad People
9:50 AM | 
Posted by
Rabbi Chaim Coffman |
"Natan of Arbel said, 'Keep aloof from a bad neighbor, do not associate with an evil man and do not give up the belief in retribution [wickedness will not succeed in the end]."
What is wrong with a bad neighbor? If I am strong in my values, do I really think that he will have the ability to influence me? The answer is that even if my values are good and I am strong in my beliefs, nonetheless the lifestyle of others can certainly effect me. This is why I have to choose where I live seriously because of the influence of my neighbors.
This goes hand-in-hand with the second part of the Mishna that one should stay away from an evil man. Rabbenu Yonah of Gerondi tells us that this is a tremendous transgression because if I associate with an evil man and transgress with him, then I have a portion in them because of my association with him.
There is a common misconception that if I have a connection with an evil person he will not affect me. Just the opposite! He has the ability to damage me more than I can affect him positively. This is the danger of doing kiruv (teaching non-religious Jews and bringing them closer to Torah). When a person is involved in this, they have to set up strict guidelines for themselves that they should not be affected negatively. Although this is a great mitzvah to bring other Jews closer to Torah, nonetheless, one has to be careful in such an endeavor.
The last part of the Mishna is directly connected to the previous statement. A person should not say in their heart, this evil person has it easy in this world, why shouldn't I have a good relationship with him? Everything is going great for them! Don't worry, It will happen in a short amount of time that this person will eventually be punished.
Sometimes, it looks like one has it easy it in this world. They have wealth, fame and power and all the trimmings that go with it. Behind the scenes, though, G-d is really giving that person the merit for the small amount of mitzvos that they have done in this world so that they will not merit anything in the next world.
The bottom line is that we want to associate with people in this world that will give us the best chance to help us reach our true spiritual potential. This will allow us to continue to grow and become the great people that we are destined to become!
What is wrong with a bad neighbor? If I am strong in my values, do I really think that he will have the ability to influence me? The answer is that even if my values are good and I am strong in my beliefs, nonetheless the lifestyle of others can certainly effect me. This is why I have to choose where I live seriously because of the influence of my neighbors.
This goes hand-in-hand with the second part of the Mishna that one should stay away from an evil man. Rabbenu Yonah of Gerondi tells us that this is a tremendous transgression because if I associate with an evil man and transgress with him, then I have a portion in them because of my association with him.
There is a common misconception that if I have a connection with an evil person he will not affect me. Just the opposite! He has the ability to damage me more than I can affect him positively. This is the danger of doing kiruv (teaching non-religious Jews and bringing them closer to Torah). When a person is involved in this, they have to set up strict guidelines for themselves that they should not be affected negatively. Although this is a great mitzvah to bring other Jews closer to Torah, nonetheless, one has to be careful in such an endeavor.
The last part of the Mishna is directly connected to the previous statement. A person should not say in their heart, this evil person has it easy in this world, why shouldn't I have a good relationship with him? Everything is going great for them! Don't worry, It will happen in a short amount of time that this person will eventually be punished.
Sometimes, it looks like one has it easy it in this world. They have wealth, fame and power and all the trimmings that go with it. Behind the scenes, though, G-d is really giving that person the merit for the small amount of mitzvos that they have done in this world so that they will not merit anything in the next world.
The bottom line is that we want to associate with people in this world that will give us the best chance to help us reach our true spiritual potential. This will allow us to continue to grow and become the great people that we are destined to become!
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