During the summer we learn each week a chapter of Pirkei Avot--Ethics of the Fathers. In the fifth chapter we read, “Yehuda ben Tema taught: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fast as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven.”
The Baal Shem Tov taught that everything we see and hear is a lesson for us in our spiritual service. Thus, we can learn from an animal how to behave in our spiritual service. And this, in fact, is what Yehuda ben Tema is telling us in this quote. Depending on the situation in which a person finds himself, it is even appropriate to behave like these animals, though they may be non-kosher, dangerous, or predatory animals. But what, specifically, can we learn from these animals?
Be bold as a leopard--one shouldn’t be embarrassed to do mitzvot because others might make fun of him, but be bold-faced in front of them.
Light as an eagle--one should look lightly at something that is bad or evil, for when the eye sees, the heart desires.
Fast as a deer--one’s legs should run quickly to do good.
And strong as a lion--one should strengthen one’s heart to serve G-d.
Rabbi Yehuda ben Tema’s words can also be found in the Shulchan Aruch--Code of Jewish Law. They are among its opening words, even before the laws of the Modeh Ani prayer which is said immediately upon awakening in the morning. This teaches us that everything we do, from the first moment we wake up in the morning, should be “to do the will of your Father in Heaven.”
Rabbi Yehuda ben Tema’s teaching is read just a few days before the 12th of Tammuz--the birthday of and liberation from communist prison of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Previous Rebbe’s entire life was personified by doing the will of our Father in Heaven. May his life of self-sacrifice for the strengthening of Judaism and dissemination of Chasidut be a good example for us, and may he be a good advocate for all of the Jewish people to storm the Heavens that Moshiach comes, NOW.
