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is this physical desire that our Mishna is warning against. The connection between the two Mishnayot is that the authors were the Nasi (head of rabbinical court) and the Av Bet Din (second in command who worked with actual cases) respectively, who both lived in Jerusalem at the same time, which lead to their differing viewpoints on how a household should be run. Yose ben Yoezer, as Nasi was able to live a life aloof to the practicalities of daily existence, and therefore was able to explain how one should develop the soul intellectually and spiritually through living with wise sages. Yose ben Yochanan however, was constantly immersed in the halachic disputes that arose in daily life and therefore was more inclined to teach how one can avoid sin by limiting their involvement with the causes of sin. The Mishna is not teaching us to remove ourselves from all things physical, far from it, the Mishna is teaching us simply to use common sense, selfcontrol and rabbinic guidance in our interactions with the physical world in order that we dont fall into frivolous overuse of, and addiction to, our desires. The relationship between these two Mishnayot can be classed as Ahava and Yira, Love and Fear of God. The first Mishna teaches us how to develop the soul with Ahava and the second Mishna teaches us how to safeguard the soul with Yira. These two Mishnayot are a wonderful expression of the uniqueness of Jewish life which challenges us to develop and move forward combined with the challenge of safeguarding our ancient traditions.
Living Torah
Let your house be open, treat the poor as members of your household, and do not converse excessively with woman. They said this about one's own wife, all the more so, it applies to another man's wife. Consequently, the Sages said anyone who converses excessively with a woman causes evil to himself, comes to neglect Torah study, and will eventually inherit Gehinom.
This Mishna presents the other half of the first pair of rabbinic leaders. Last Mishna we saw Yose ben Yo'ezer's discussion of the importance of having Talmidei Chachamim in ones household. Yose ben Yochanan takes a different perspective of the same institution, the household. The Maharal speaks about the different natures of men and women, which will help explain why speaking excessively with women is such a sin punishable with Gehinom. The Maharal explains that women (and indeed to women, men) represent the double sided existence that human beings live. On the one hand, the unity between men and women is something very holy and is encouraged by the Torah, but on the other hand, the opposite gender represents the pinnacle of physical desire. It
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The Gemara in Shabbos explains that a person who is born under the red constellation of Mars has bloodthirsty Eisav means made or completed. From the word go, we tendencies. But how does he overcome this? By serving as see that Eisav was full of energy and strength. The name a Shochet or a Mohel, and using his nature that desires Yaakov comes from Eikev which means heel because he blood for positive and important purposes. held on to Eisavs heel as they emerged into the world. However, we know that Yaakov was later on given a se- The name Yisrael comes from the root sar which means cond name. The night before his epic meeting with his to rule, as well as yashar, an indication of being upright brother Eisav who is set on taking revenge on Yaakov for and straight. stealing Yitzchaks blessing. He struggles with a mysterious stranger and enter a dramatic wrestle. According to Therefore the name Yaakov is appropriate for Golus. Whilst some, this stranger was Eisavs guardian angel, who in- in Golus, the Jewish people must restrict the numerous formed Yaakov that his name will no longer be called negative experiences and try and reduce them as much as Yaakov, but Yisrael, for you have struggled with God and possible, by holding on to their heel; ensuring they cant with men and you have prevailed. afflict as much damage as they otherwise could; in the same way a leash restrains a dog from running away and What, however, is the deeper, inner meaning of Yaakovs causing harm or damage. names? What significance did grasping the heel of his twin brother have? Why have two names? However, the name Yisrael, indicates a much higher level. This is therefore only appropriate when the Jewish people The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that Eisav represented the are living in their own land. This is exactly why the land is physical and Yaakov represented the spiritual. This is why called Eretz Yisrael; to illustrate how we must behave. they are both mentioned in the name of our parsha We could be a Yaakov and just ignore and shut off ourToldos because just as there are both positive and nega- selves from negativity. But this isnt permanent and can tive forces in the world, so too, every person is a composi- have devastating consequences. tion of both positive and negative traits. Why do we need these negative forces? Because without them; their power We know from the Rambam that there are two types of and vitality; many of our goals and aspirations would lack Teshuva out of love and out of fear. Out of fear serves to the necessary materials to be realised. lessen the punishment of our past Aveiros. But repenting out of love transforms our Aveiros into Mitzvos! This is the According to Rav Kook, Eisav represents the raw and base trait of Yisrael. forces in this world. The red description is indicative of blood; a reflection of his violent and brutal nature of his We must be like Yisrael, using the trait of turning negativity personality. into positivity to rule over the negative forces in the world. By holding on to his heel, Yaakov was not trying to prevent his coming into the world. The world needs the traits that By Yoel Lax (graduate of Hasmonean High School, now Eisav embodies strength and raw power. However, Yaa- learning in Yeshivat Or Etzion)
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