B"H

Tuesday, Sivan 14, 5785 / June 10, 2025

In the second chapter of Pirkei Avot, which will be recited this Shabbat, we find the following teachings of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: “Be as careful in the performance of a [seemingly] minor mitzvah as of a major one, for you do not know the reward given for the various mitzvot... Reflect upon three things and you will not come to sin: Know what is above you; An Eye that sees, an Ear that hears, and all your deeds are recorded in a Book."

"Know what is above you" - The Hebrew words for "Know what is above you" are "Da mah l'ma’alah mimcha."  This can also be translated as, "Know that what happens above IS from YOU."  

According to the teaching of our sages, whatever happens in heaven above and the reward in the World-to-Come is directly affected by the good deeds we perform in this world. 

“Know what is above you" - The story is told of a group of children who had a contest to see who could climb to the top of a very tall ladder.  One after the other, the children climbed about halfway, became frightened, and gave up.  Only one boy managed to make it to the top. 

His grandfather asked him, "How did you accomplish what the others couldn't?" 

The little boy answered, "The other children kept looking down as they climbed the ladder, thus, realizing how high they were, they became frightened. I, on the other hand, continuously keptlooking up and realized how low I was, so I wanted to go higher and higher.  This is why I was able to reach the top."

“Know what is above you," says Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.  By “looking up” we will be encouraged and strive to go higher and higher spiritually, thus we will not come to sin.

"An Eye that sees" - A rabbi paid a wagon driver to take him from one town to another.   On the road they passed a field full of hay and the driver decided to help himself to some bailed hay.    

"Rabbi, if you notice anyone watching let me know immediately!"  Assured that nobody was watching and the rabbi was on guard he ran toward the field. No sooner did the wagon driver start gathering the hay, when the rabbi yelled out, "Someone's watching! Someone's watching!"   The driver dropped the hay, ran frantically back to the carriage and drove away as quickly as he could.

After a while, he turned to the rabbi and said, "Rabbi, I didn't see anyone!  Are you sure someone was watching?"

"Definitely!" replied the Rabbi, pointing upward… "G-d was watching!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW