Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/2

Introduction

This Mishnah presents sayings of Rabban Gamliel beRabbi, or Gamliel III, the son of Rabbi Yehuda haNasi, who was introduced in Mishnah 2:1. Rabban Gamliel succeeded his father as Nasi.

Hebrew Text

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא אוֹמֵר:
יָפֶה תַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה עִם דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ,
שֶׁיְּגִיעַת שְׁנֵיהֶם מְשַׁכַּחַת עָוֹן.
וְכָל תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵין עִמָּהּ מְלָאכָה, סוֹפָהּ בְּטֵלָה וְגוֹרֶרֶת עָוֹן.

וְכָל הָעֲמֵלִים עִם הַצִּבּוּר, יִהְיוּ עֲמֵלִים עִמָּהֶם לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם,
שֶׁזְּכוּת אֲבוֹתָם מְסַיְּעָתַן,
וְצִדְקָתָם עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד.
וְאַתֶּם, מַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם שָׂכָר הַרְבֵּה כְּאִלּוּ עֲשִׂיתֶם.

English Translation

Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi said:
Excellent is the study of the Torah together with a worldly occupation,
For the exertion [expended] in both of them causes sin to be forgotten.
And all [study of the] Torah in the absence of a worldly occupation comes to nothing in the end and leads to sin.

And all who work for the community, let them work for the [sake of the] name of Heaven,
For the merit of the [community’s] ancestors sustains them,
And their [ancestors’] righteousness will endure forever.
And as for you [who work for the community], [God says:] I credit you with a great reward, as if you [yourselves] had [actually] done [everything on your own].

Explanation

For commentary on Mishnah 2:2, see, for example:

• The Maharal
• Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
• Yanki Tauber