Chapter VI
Likkutei Sichos Volume 36, Pages 184 - 186
פרק ו', משנה ו': גדולה תורה יותר מן הכהונה ומן המלכות, שהמלכות נקנית בשלשים מעלות, והכהונה בעשרים וארבע, והתורה נקנית בארבעים ושמונה דברים, ואלו הן ... והאומר דבר בשם אומרו. הא למדת כל האומר דבר בשם אומרו מביא גאולה לעולם, שנאמר ותאמר אסתר למלך בשם מרדכי.
Chapter 6, Mishnah 6: Torah is greater than the priesthood or kingship, for kingship is acquired with 30 virtues, the priesthood with 24, and Torah is acquired with 48 qualities, one who says something in the name of its speaker. This is as we have learned, that one who says something in the name of its speaker brings redemption to the world, as is stated, "And Esther told the king in the name of Mordechai."
The Simple Explanation
The sixth and concluding chapter of Pirkei Avos is called Kinyan Torah, the Acquisition of Torah. All of its teachings focus on how we can incorporate Torah into our lives. The teaching upon which we are concentrating expressly spells out all of the forty-eight qualities that one needs to acquire Torah. The very last of these virtues is that of saying something in the name of the original speaker, i.e., giving credit to the source of the teaching. It goes a step further and tells us that as a result of so doing, we bring redemption to the world.
Difficulties in Understanding the Mishnah
We need to understand what the connection is between repeating a teaching in the name of the one who said it and the acquisition of Torah. The other forty-seven attributes are clearly necessary to internalize Torah: "study, listening, verbalizing, etc." However, the 48th item would seem to require explanation. How does it facilitate the acquisition of Torah? Additionally, what relevance is the fact that through this virtue one brings redemption to the world?
The Explanation
As mentioned above, this is the concluding chapter of Pirkei Avos. This work began with the teaching that "Moshe received the Torah from Sinai, and gave it over to Yehoshua. Yehoshua gave it over to the Elders, the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets gave it over to the Men of the Great Assembly ..." In other words, Torah study is based on a tradition. I received the knowledge of Torah which I possess, from my teacher. He received Torah from his teacher, etc., going all the way back to Moshe Rabbeinu, who received Torah directly from G-d. Remembering this is a fundamental principle of Torah study. It must constantly be engraved in everything we learn. That is why this is one of the 48 virtues needed to acquire Torah.
That is also why, by doing so, one brings redemption to the world. Mentioning the one who initially made the statement redeems the Torah. It reveals the truth, that all of Torah is a tradition which began with the Almighty transmitting the Torah to Moshe. The Torah is the basis and foundation of the entire world. As a result of redeeming Torah, we bring redemption to the world. May we experience the complete and true redemption through our righteous Moshiach now!
Adapted from the Sichos of Shabbos Parshas Tisa, 5740 and Shabbos Parshas Balak, 5743
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