Shimon The Righteous Was One Of The Last Of The Men Of The Great Assembly. He Used To Say: "The World Stands On Three Qualities: On [The Study Of] Torah, The Service [Of G-D], And Deeds Of Kindness."

Shimon The Righteous Was One Of The Last Of The Men Of The Great Assembly

The Men of the Great Assembly were a gathering of great Sages, each possessing different tendencies. Each Sage's influence balanced and moderated the input of the others. With an emphasis on harmony, this auspicious body charted the course of Jewish observance.

As long as this body functioned, it was able to bring balance to the different character traits possessed by people at large. When, however, this assemblage ceased to exist, there was a need to highlight the importance of equilibrium. Shimon the Righteous, one of the last participants in this body, showed how the three modes of divine service mentioned enable both the individual's private world and the world outside to stand with strength and stability.

(Sichos Shabbos Parshas Shemini, 5740)

The World Stands On Three Qualities

This expression implies that the world is above the Torah, divine service, and deeds of kindness, for a support is always inferior to the entity it is supporting. This is problematic, for the Torah "preceded the world,"[13] and represents a higher plane than material existence.

In resolution, it can be explained that this mishnah is concerned with the ultimate purpose of the world - that it serve as a dwelling for G-d.[14] It focuses on the Torah, divine service, and deeds of kindness as the means which will enable the world to realize this purpose. Thus in this context, these three modes of religious expression are seen, not as goals in their own right, but as ways of bringing the world to fulfillment.

(Sichos Shabbos Parshas Chukas, 5744)

[The Study Of] Torah, The Service [Of G-d], And Deeds Of Kindness

The Torah shows a person how to conduct his life. Service (prayer) enables one to internalize the Torah's teachings, and deeds of kindness express these teachings in the world at large.

(Sichos Shabbos Parshas Shemini, 574O)

   

Notes:

13. (Back to text) Bereishis Rabbah 8:2 et al.

14. (Back to text) Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Bechukosai, sec. 3; Tanya, chs. 33 and 36.