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Welcome to Torah Daily, your daily source for uplifting and insightful Torah teachings. Dive into timeless wisdom, explore the weekly Parsha, and discover practical lessons for modern living. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or new to Torah study, our episodes offer a meaningful journey through the sacred texts. Subscribe now and enrich your day, one Torah lesson at a time.
Welcome to our daily dose of Torah wisdom. Today we are going to delve into the wellspring of wisdom that is the Pirkei Avot, or Ethics of the Fathers, a compilation of ethical teachings and maxims from our sages. Specifically, we will focus on the famous saying in Pirkei Avot, Chapter 2:16, "It is not up to you to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it."
Now, this might sound a bit confusing. What does it mean? Are we supposed to finish our work or not? The sage Rabbi Tarfon offers a profound insight: Our responsibility in this world is not to complete the task but to make a start, to contribute to its completion. In our everyday lives, we often feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of tasks and challenges. We may even hesitate to begin a task fearing we won't be able to complete it.
But Rabbi Tarfon teaches us not to be daunted. Our duty is to make a start, to do our part. The completion of the task is in God's hands. This is not to suggest we can be complacent or shirk our duties. On the contrary, we must take the initiative, make the effort, and strive to fulfill our responsibilities to the best of our abilities.
So, as we go about our day today, let's remember this wisdom. Let's not be deterred by the size of the task at hand. Rather, let's take the first step, put in the effort, and trust that the completion is in the hands of the Almighty.
Thank you for joining me today. This podcast was produced and sponsored by Daniel Aharonoff.