Chapter 6, Mishnah 11: Everything that G-d created in His world, He only made for His glory. As is stated, "All that is called by My name and for My glory, I created it, I formed it, and I also made it." And it says, "Hashem shall rule forever and ever."
Introduction
Chapter six of Pirkei Avos, which we learn and discuss this week, appears to be the final chapter. However, Avos only contains five chapters of Mishnah, and Chapter Six consists of Beraysos, which were added to these five chapters. This chapter discusses the greatness of Torah study and how each of us can acquire this attribute; therefore, it is called "Kinyan Torah," meaning the acquisition of Torah.
We have often discussed that the original five chapters teach us how to attain holiness, meaning how to conduct ourselves beyond the letter of the law. The same is true of this chapter. Since we must always be on the ascent in holy matters, the same is true of our current chapter. It discusses an even greater level of purity than the first five chapters.
The simple reason for adding this sixth chapter is to learn one chapter on each of the six Shabbossos between Pesach and Shavuos. Therefore, it is appropriate to learn Kinyan Torah on the sixth Shabbos, which precedes Shavuos, the day we receive the Torah.
The Simple Explanation of Our Mishnah
This teaching tells us, "Everything that G-d created in His world, He only created for His glory." How is this so? The Maharal of Prague explains this as follows. The entire Chapter Six discusses the Torah study. At the end of the chapter, the rabbis emphasize that our Torah study may not be for the sake of our honor; instead, we must learn Torah to bring glory to Hashem. How can we accomplish this? By conducting ourselves in an extraordinarily kind and gracious manner.
1. Literally, “He did not create but for His glory.”
2. Yeshayahu 43:7.
3. Parshas Beshalach, Shemos 15:1.
4. The Mishnah was written by sages who lived throughout the first two centuries of the Common Era. They were called the Tanna’im. Rabbi Yehudah Hanossi edited and canonized this great work. Beraysos are those works which were also written by the same sages but were not included in the Mishnah.
What is the meaning of the word "world"?
The Hebrew word for world is "Olam - עולם," which comes from the root meaning concealment. Why did Hashem create this "world," this concealment of His holy light? Why did He create everything in this world? He did so to reveal His honor. How is His glory shown? This is accomplished by Jews using all of the world's creations to serve Him with Torah and Mitzvos. However, the question is, exactly how does this happen? How does our Torah study reveal Hashem's glory?
The Explanation
We can see that Hashem created everything because He revealed this in His Torah. In the first verse of the Torah, He wrote, "At the beginning of Hashem's creation of heaven and earth." This means that He created the world in a manner in which He revealed His presence within it.
Furthermore, He created the world so that it requires (so to speak) His constant involvement. As we say in the morning prayers, "In His goodness, He renews each day, continuously, the work of creation." Creation was not a one-time action 5,785 years ago but a constant, ongoing process. The Omnipotent G-d did not (Chas Veshalom) need to create the world this way. He could have made a world that could last throughout the six millennia of its existence. There was no need (G-d forbid) to create the world in a way that would require His constant creative power.
However, Hashem created it in this manner so that we, His creations, should be connected with Him at every moment. This enables us to constantly feel that through our Torah and Mitzvos, we are adding to and renewing the revelation of Hashem's glory in the world. In this manner, He bestows upon us the greatest pleasure.
He accomplished all this by establishing creation in this manner, a constant process taking place every moment. Because of this, we can connect to Him at every moment. Every time a Jew recites a Berochoh for a particular food or drink, he reveals Hashem's glory within the food or drink and creates it every moment. This "word of Hashem" within the food gives life to the one who recites the Berochoh.
5. See Likkutei Torah Parshas Shelach, 37, d.
6. Parshas Bereishis, Bereishis 1:1.
7. See the Siddur, the first blessing recited before Shema.
8. See Shaar Hayichud Vehoemunah Chapters 1 – 2.
9. See the Talmud Rosh Hashana 31, a.
10. That is in addition to the fact that we are fulfilling Hashem’s will.
11. Hashem established as a part of human nature, that we appreciate the work of our own hands far more than something even greater which was done by another. We therefore derive more pleasure from our own part in spreading the glory of Hashem in this world, than is something He may have done Himself. See the Talmud Bava Metzia 38, a.
Bringing the glory of Hashem throughout the world
By performing Torah and Mitzvos, we are adding the few remaining bricks to finish the construction of Hashem's dwelling place here in this world, in the Third Bais Hamikdosh with our righteous Moshiach now!
(Adapted from the Sichah of Thursday of Parshas Korach, the Second Day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz and Shabbos Parshas Korach 3 Tammuz, 5751)
