אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר,
שֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶם
בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה
וְהַקֶּרֶן קַיֶּמֶת לוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן:
כִּבּוּד אָב וָאֵם,
וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים,
וְהַשְׁכָּמַת בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ,
שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית,
וְהַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים,
וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים,
וְהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה,
וּלְוָיַת הַמֵּת,
וְעִיּוּן תְּפִלָּה,
וַהֲבָאַת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ.
וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם:
These are things that are limitless,
of which a person enjoys the fruit of the world,
while the principal remains in the world to come.
They are: honoring one’s parents,
engaging in deeds of compassion,
arriving early for study, morning and evening,
dealing graciously with guests, visiting the sick,
providing for the wedding couple,
accompanying the dead for burial,
being devoted in prayer,
and making peace among people.
But the study of Torah encompasses them all.
Based on Mishnah Peah 1:1 and Talmud Bavli Shabbat 127a.
Text has been edited for gender neutrality.
Questions provided on the back of this page.
- Why are these values listed as some of the most important ones in our Jewish tradition? What do they have in common? How are they different from one another?
- Have you participated in any of these activities? Describe what you did and how you felt both during and afterwards.
- Which of these activities feels most meaningful to you and why?
- What is the difference in doing these actions as a child versus as an adult? What expectations change and how?
- The culmination of the process of becoming b'nei mitzvah means that a person is seen as a responsible Jewish adult, contributing to the Jewish community in productive and meaningful ways. How do participating in these actions demonstrate that?