|
|
|
 |
||
| Home |
||
|
||
| Seminars |
||
| Clips |
||
| Information |
||
|
||
| Pirkei Avot |
||
|
||
| Articles |
||
|
||
| About JIYF |
||
 |
||
|
|
If I am not for myself, who is for me?
When I am for myself, what am I? If not now, when? —Hillel Discussion Guide [1:14]. Hillel’s question ‘What am I?” has us inquire into what our duty is in our different roles. Confucius said, in a related idea, that the key to a good society was that ‘the father be a father, the son a son, the ruler, a ruler,’ meaning that each person should fulfill his duty honestly and competently. What are your roles, and your duties in them? For example, if you are a youth, what do you owe to your parents? If you are a parent, what do you owe to your child?  To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and
a time to die; ...a time to kill, and time to heal; ...a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time
to mourn, and a time to dance; ...a time to embrace, a time to refrain from embracing; ...a time
to keep silence, a time to speak; a time to love, a time to hate; a time for war, and a time
for peace.—Eccl. 3:1-3:8Hillel’s last question asks: What time is it for me now? What should I do in this stage of my life? How should I prepare for the next stage? Hillel’s three questions are deep, with many levels of meaning. What is your own interpretation of Hillel’s questions? HEBREW | COMMENTARY | DISCUSSION GUIDE {To Previous Mishnah | To Next Mishnah}
{Contents}
|
