In the first Mishna in Avos tells us Shimon Hatzadik haya m’shiyarei kneses hagedolah, Shimon Hatzadik was from the last surviving members of the great Assembly of chachamim who lived at the beginning of the second Beis Hamikdash era. He tells us, al she’loshe devarim ha’olam omeid, the world stands on three pillars: al hatorah, v’al ha’avoda, v’al gemilas chasadim, on Torah study, service of Hashem, and good deeds.
Harav Moshe Wolfson questions why we need to preface the statement of Shimon Hatzadik by mentioning his affiliation with the anshei kneses hagedolah. Clearly, he is teaching a lesson that was relevant specifically for that generation.
Rav Wolfson explains that when the Bais Hamikdash stood, the path of avodas Hashem was clear. Klal Yisroel lived in Eretz Yisroel, brought korbonos, and the Shechina’s presence was palpable. However, when they returned from galus and rebuilt the Bais Hamikdash, there was no longer the same open display of miracles. Therefore, they turned to the anshei kineses hagedola, which counted many nevi’im among its one-hundred-twenty members. They established the tefilos and brachos that we use until today, charting
Eventually, the members of the anshei kneses hagedolah began to pass away. When Shimon Hatzadik, the last remaining member, became older, they began to worry once more about their future.
In this Mishnah, Shimon Hatzadik comes to allay these fears. “You don’t need us,” he told the Yidden. “The world stands on Torah, Avoda and Gemilas Chasodim. As long as you follow these principles, you’re connected to ruchniyus and to Hashem.
Rav Wolfson explains that this concept connects beginning of the Torah with its end. The Torah concludes by describing the petira of Moshe Rabbeinu. Understandably, the people were nervous how they could possibly continue without him. The solution is found on the word breishis. Chazal expound this word in many ways. They say, beshvil hatorah sh’enikra reishis, the world was created for the Torah, which is called reishis. Another derasha repositions the letters to form the words bara tayish, He created a ram, referring to the ayil offered as a korban at the time of akeidas Yitzchak, the quintessential act of Avoda. Additionally, Chazal refer to a set of mitzvos which are called reshis - chalah, ma’aser and bikurim, which are the first portion of the crops and the dough. We give these to the Kohein, and this is considered an act of gemilus chasadim.
This is the very solution suggested by Shimon Hatzadik. Even when a great leader is niftar, Klal Yisroel continues, guided by these three great principles. When we harness the power of reishis, constantly starting anew and growing ever greater, we return to our original state of yashar, as Hashem intended.
