Shalom Chaverim,
It is customary to study Pirke Avot each Shabbat between Passover and Rosh haShana. [Actually, there are many different customs about study of Pirke Avot on Shabbat. You can learn about these customs here.]
On this Shabbat between Yom HaShoah last week and Yom Ha’Atzmaut next week, Avot 1:18 seems particularly timely and important:
Avot 1:18
רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַדִּין וְעַל הָאֱמֶת וְעַל הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ח) אֱמֶת וּמִשְׁפַּט שָׁלוֹם שִׁפְטוּ בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶם
Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel used to say: on three things does the world stand: On justice, on truth and on peace, as it is said: “execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.” (Zechariah 8:16)
Explanation by Dr. Joshua Kulp:
Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel in this mishnah is not the same Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel quoted in Avot 1:17, but rather his grandson, the son of Rabban Gamaliel of Yavneh. He was the patriarch after the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135 C.E.). He lived in the Gallilee, which became the center of Judaism after the revolt. Many of his statements appear in the Mishnah, and was the father of Rabbi Judah Hanasi, who edited the Mishnah.
Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel used to say: on three things does the world stand: On justice, on truth and on peace, as it is said: “execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates” (Zechariah 8:16)….Some versions of our mishnah read “does the world exist” instead of “does the world stand.”
The Meiri comments about the difference between our Mishna and a similar one in Avot 1:2. In that earlier mishnah, Shimon the Righteous taught three things without which the world would crumble: the Torah, the Temple service (“avodah”), and the practice of acts of piety (“gemilut hasadim”).
Our mishnah teaches things without which the world could stand but the political/societal structure would fall apart. Without justice, truth, and peace, the world be anarchical, full of danger.
Justice: the Rabbis also stated that any judge who judges correctly is a partner with God in creation. Creating a just world is one of the responsibilities of all human beings, Jew and non-Jew alike.
Truth: Some commentators understand this as speaking truthfully to one’s fellow human being. Others understand this as a recognition of God.
Peace: Without peace, even if a person has personal wealth and all of the material things one needs, that person will not be able to enjoy them, for war will tear apart their life. Proper Torah study is also impossible to fulfill in times of strife and war. This statement can also be understood as peace between the people of Israel themselves, as was learned in mishnah twelve. The Palestinian Talmud comments that these are all actually connected. If there is justice, there will be truth and if there are truth and justice there will be peace. That is why all three are learned from one verse.
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Rabbi Michael Schwartz