The middos of Avraham Avinu are essential
Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our father Avraham; The disciples of our father Avraham 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. The disciples of our father Abraham benefit in this world and inherit the World To Come. (5:19)
The great Tzaddik Harav Pinchus of Koritz, a talmid of the Baal Shem Tov, and the Maggid of Mezritch asks: Why doesn’t the Mishna state simply whoever does good deeds is a disciple of our father Avraham, and whoever doesn’t do good deeds is a disciple of Bilaam? From this the Rebbe derives a deep insight, that by doing good deeds alone, will not merit you the title of being a disciple of Avraham. Only Middos Tovos / good traits and behavior, is the recipe for being a disciple of Avraham. However if a person has one of the negative traits listed in the Mishna, he is a disciple of Bilaam, even if he does good deeds. (,uct ka obhgn)
