Handout on Rabbinic Notion of Imitatio Dei

8/3/2019 Handout on Rabbinic Notion of Imitatio Dei

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Re Rabbinic Notion ofImitatio Dei, Right and Good, Lifnim mishurat Hadin, Avot

TORAH -- Positive General Behavioral Norms :A. The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and

gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love

for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no meansclearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's

children, to the third and the fourth generation.(Ex 34:6-7)

B. You shall be holy, for I the Lord am holy. (Leviticus 19.2)

C. Be sure to keep the commandments, decrees, and laws that the Lord your God has enjoined

upon you. Do what is right and good (hayashar vhatov) in the sight of the Lord, that it may gowell with you (Deut 6:17-18)

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RABBIS:

A. IMITATIO DEI from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)

1. Abba Saul in the Mechilta: "Resemble Him! Just as He is gracious and merciful, so you should

be gracious and merciful" (Mechilta Shirata 3 on Ex 15:2b).

2. As God is merciful, so you too be merciful. The Holy Blessed One is called "gracious," so

you too be gracious ... and give freely. God is called "righteous," so you too be righteous, God is

called "holy," you too be holy, for thus it is written "all you call by my name will escape" (Joel3:5) and "all who are called by my name, I have created for my glory" (Is. 43:7). (Sifre 85a to

Deuteronomy)

3. We have found that the Holy Blessed one blesses bridegrooms and adorns brides and visits

the sick and buries the dead. Blesses bridegrooms, from "God blessed them" (Gen. 1:28), adorns

brides ("God built upon his side," Gen. 2:22), visits the sick ("God appeared to him by theterebinth of Mamreh," Gen. 18:1), and buries the dead ("God buried him in the ravine," Deut.

32:6). R. Shmuel bar Nahman said, "even consoles the dead, for it is written 'God appeared to

Jacob when he came from Padan-Aram and blessed him'" (Gen. 35:9). (Rabbi Simlai in Genesis

Rabba 58.9)

4. The profession of the Holy One, blessed be He, is charity and loving-kindness, and Abraham,

who will command his children and his household after him is told by God: Thou hast chosenmy profession; wherefore thou shalt also become like unto me... (Gen R, 58.9)

5. The members of the House of Israel are in duty bound to deal with one another mercifully, todo charity (mitzvoth) and to practice kindness (gemilut chasadim). For the Holy One, blessed be

He, created this world with loving-kindness and mercy, and it rests with us to learn the ways of

God.


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6. "Rav Hama son of Rav Hanina said, what is the meaning of the verse, `Follow none but the

Lord your God?' (Deuteronomy 13:15) Is it possible for a human being actually to follow the

ways of God? Has it not already been said, `The Lord your God is a devouring fire.(Deuteronomy 4:24) What it means is that we should imitate the attributes of God? As God

clothed the naked (regarding Adam and Eve), so you should clothe the naked. As God visited

the sick (after Abraham's circumcision), so you should visit the sick. As God comfortedmourners (Isaac after the death of Abraham), so you should comfort mourners. As God buried

the dead (Moses in the valley), so also you should bury the dead." (BT, Sota 14a)

B. DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD

Deut 6 you shall do what is good and right (hayashar vhatov) in the sight of the Lord

Be sure to keep the commandments, decrees, and laws that the Lord your God has

enjoined upon you. Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well

with you (Deut 6:17-18)

Nachmanides (1194-1270): "The intent of this is as follows: At first he [Moses] stated that you

are to keep His statutes and His testimonies which He commanded you, and now he is statingthat even where He has not commanded you, give heed to do what is good and right in His eyes,

for He loves the good and right. Now this is a great principle, for it is impossible to mention in

the Torah all aspects of man's conduct with his neighbors and friends, and all his various

transactions, and the ordinances of all societies and countries. But since He mentioned many ofthem, he reverted to state in a general way that, in all matters, one should do what is good andright, including even compromise and going beyond the letter of the law...thus a person must

seek to refine his behavior in every form of activity, until he is worthy of being called 'good andupright'."

Some porters broke a barrel of wine belonging to Rabbah son of Rav Huna. Rabbah

seized the porters garments [in payment for his loss incurred by them]. The porters went

and complained to Rav. Rav told Rabbah: Return their garments. Rabbah said: Is that

the law? Rav responded: No. But follow the good way (Proverbs 2:20a). The garments

were returned, but the porters observed, We are poor men. We worked all day and we

were not paid. Are we to get nothing for our labors? Rav ordered Rabbah to pay the

porters. Rabbah asked: Is that the law? Rav replied, No. But be sure to walk on the

paths of righteousness. (Proverbs 2:20b)

Babylonian Talmud,Bava Metzia 83a

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C. LIFNIM MISHURAT HADIN

"...R. Yohanan said: 'Yerushalayim would not have been destroyed, save that they judgedDin

Torah (by the Law of the Torah).' Should they have judged by the brutal laws?--rather, they


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insisted upon the law, and did not practiceLifnim miShurat haDin (beyond the letter of the law).

(BT Bava Mezia 30b)

D. RABBINIC NOTIONS OF CO-RESPONSIBILITY

Ezekiel 3:20

"Or ifa righteous man turn from righteousness & do what is wrong, & I make that the occasion

for bringing about his downfall, he shall die; becauseyou did not warn him, he shall die for hissin, & the righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood will I

require at your hand." [ea]

Ezekiel 9:4-6

"Then he... said to him, "Pass through the city - through Jerusalem - & set a mark upon theforeheads of the men who sigh & cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of it.

And to the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, & slay without mercy

or pity. Old men, young men + maidens, little children & women - strike them all dead! But

touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary!"

Rashi on Ezekiel 9:4-6

"The sages have said "Do not read 'begin at my sanctuary,' but 'begin with those that sanctify

me,' ...as teaches the Talmudic Treatise Sabbath, 55a"

Said Rabbi Isaac: "Always whenever the wicked increase in the world, it is the righteous found

amongst them who are the first to suffer, as it is written, (and begin at my sanctuary) (Ez. IX, 6)

(mimiqdashe). Now this word should not be translated and read at my sanctuary, but rather bythose who sanctify me (miniqdashi).

The following quote provides context for quote from Shabbat 55a to the effect that even thegood ones are guilty and deserve to die as well, and perhaps even more for failing to rebuke

the evil ones. Thus God would be holding the former accountable for the evil of the latter which

the former did not act to stop.

Said the Attribute of Judgment before the Holy One, blessed be He, Sovereign of the Universe!How are these different from those?

Those are completely righteous men, while these are completely wicked, replied He.

Sovereign of the Universe! it continued, they had the power to protest but did not.


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It was fully known to Me that had they protested they would not have heeded them.

Sovereign of the Universe! said he, If it was revealed to You, was it revealed to them?

(Shabbat 55a)

MISHNA: Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot)

**1.7 Nitai the Arbelite would say: Distance yourself from a bad neighbor, do not cleave to a

wicked person, and do not abandon belief in retribution.

1.12 Hillel and Shammai received from them. Hillel would say: Be of the disciples of Aaron a

lover of peace, a pursuer of peace, one who loves the creatures and draws them close to Torah.

1.18 Rabbi Shimon the son of Gamliel would say: On three things the would endures: law, truthand peace. As is stated, "Truth, and a judgement of peace, you should administer at your [city]

gates."

**2.1 Contemplate three things, and you will not come to the hands of transgression: Know what

is above from you: a seeing eye, a listening ear, and all your deeds being inscribed in a book.

***2.11 Rabbi Joshua would say: An evil eye, the evil inclination, and the hatred of one's

fellows, drive a person from the world.

3.1 Rabbi Akavia the son of Mahalalel would say: Reflect upon three things and you will not

come to the hands of transgression. Know from where you came, where you are going, and

before whom you are destined to give a judgment and accounting. From where you camefroma putrid drop; where you are goingto a place of dust, maggots and worms; and before whom

you are destined to give a judgment and accountingbefore the supreme king of kings, the Holy

One, blessed be He.

3.15 All is foreseen, and freedom of choice is granted. The world is judged with goodness, but in

accordance with the amount of man's positive deeds.

***4.1 Ben Zoma would say: Who is wise? One who learns from every man. As is stated: "From

all my teachers I have grown wise, for Your testimonials are my meditation." Who is strong?

One who overpowers his inclinations. As is stated, "Better one who is slow to anger than onewith might, one who rules his spirit than the captor of a city." Who is rich? One who is satisfied

with his lot. As is stated: "If you eat of toil of your hands, fortunate are you, and good is to you" ;

"fortunate are you" in this world, "and good is to you" in the World to Come. Who is

honorable, one who honors his fellows. As is stated: "For to those who honor me, I accord

honor; those who scorn me shall be demeaned."


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4.2 Ben Azzai would say: Run to pursue a minor mitzvah, and flee from a transgression. For a

mitzvah brings another mitzvah, and a transgression brings another transgression. For the reward

of a mitzvah is a mitzvah, and the reward of transgression is transgression.

4.15 Rabbi Yannai would say: We have no comprehension of the tranquility of the wicked, nor

of the suffering of the righteous.

4.16 Rabbi Yaakov would say: This world is comparable to the antechamber before the World to

Come. Prepare yourself in the antechamber, so that you may enter the banquet hall.4.17 He would also say: A single moment of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater

than all of the World to Come. And a single moment of bliss in the World to Come is greater

than all of the present world.

4.19 Samuel the Small would say: "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice; when he stumbles, let

your heart not be gladdened. Lest G-d see, and it will displeasing in His eyes, and He will turn

His wrath from him [to you]"

4.21 Rabbi Elazar HaKapor would say: Envy, lust and honor drive a man from the world.

***5.10 There are four types of people: One who says, "What is mine is yours, and what is

yours is mine" is a boor. One who says "What is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours"this

is a median characteristic; others say that this is the character of a Sodomite. One who says,

"What is mine is yours, and what is yours is yours" is a chassid (pious one ). And one whosays "What is mine is mine, and what is yours is mine" is wicked.

5.11 There are four types of temperaments. One who is easily angered and easily appeasedhis virtue cancels his flaw. One whom it is difficult to anger and difficult to appeasehis flaw

cancels his virtue. One whom it is difficult to anger and is easily appeased, is a chassid. One

who is easily angered and is difficult to appease, is wicked.

5.19 Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our father Abraham;

and whoever possesses the opposite three traits is of the disciples of the wicked Bilaam. Thedisciples of our father Abraham have a good eye, a meek spirit and a humble soul. The

disciples of the wicked Bilaam have an evil eye, a haughty spirit and a gross soul. What is the

difference between the disciples of our father Abraham and the disciples of the wicked Bilaam?

The disciples of our father Abraham benefit in this world and inherit the World To Come, and isstated, "To bequeath to those who love Me there is, and their treasures I shall fill." The disciples

of the wicked Bilaam inherit purgatory and descent into the pit of destruction, as is stated, "And

You, G-d, shall cast them into the pit of destruction; bloody and deceitful men, they shall notattain half their days. And I shall trust in you."

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FROM EIN YAAKOV


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Handout on Rabbinic Notion of Imitatio Dei

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