בס״ד Deeper Look at Pirkei Avot In memory of ברוך דניאל בן זאב לוי הכהן ז״ל

(6) Yehoshua ben Perachiah and Nitai of Arbel received from them. Yehoshua ben Perachia says, "Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend and judge every person as meritorious (with merit/favorably)."

Yehoshua ben Perachiah and Nitai of Arbel received from them. Yehoshua ben Perachia says, "Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend and judge every person as meritorious (with merit/favorably)."

"Make for yourself a teacher," how? He who will teach you regularly from Torah, Mishna, Medrish, and Gemara (Halachot and Aggadot). The conlsuions he reaches in Torah will lead you to Mishna. The conclusions in Mishna will lead you to Medrish. The conclusions in Medrish will lead you to the Gemara. We find that a person who sits in his teachers place will be filled with abundance and blessings.

Even if it appears that you are a very wise individual, and do not need a teacher, nevertheless you should "make for yourself a teacher."

(2) "acquire for yourself a friend": And even if you need to acquire him for a large sum and to spend money upon him in order to acquire his love. But with a mentor, it is not applicable to say, "Acquire for yourself a mentor," as a [teacher of Torah] must teach for free.

You should spend money in order to attach yourself to a dear friend, because it's permitted for you to acquire him. Because those who learn with a group are more successful.

To make you aware of the ways of Hashem and your actions, when you are acting in a in an inappropriate manner. Everyone should make their friends into their teachers, that if they sees his friend acting wrong, he will shout at his friend. However, if he is just a friend, the friend will be embarrassed to shout at his friend and help fix his ways. Therefore, friends should always give the benefit of the doubt, because then when they point out a wrongdoing, the friend will listen.

"Rav" is an expression of growth. You should always be looking to increase in your service of Hashem and sanctifying your limbs for the Holy One Blessed be He., to be a vehicle for Hashem's expression in this world.

And this is what it means to "acquire a friend." You shall make yourself into the expression of Godliness in this world, vehicles for Hashem's presence. Friend (חבר) shares a root with the word attach (מתחבר). We should attach ourselves to Hashem and allow His Light to be seen through our actions.

And in this way you will "judge everyone with merit." By transforming yourself into a vehicle for Hashem's Light in this world, you shine goodness onto every person you interact with - with your words and actions.