Thank you everyone for joining with me as I celebrate my siyum on Mesechtas Pirkei Avos and Seder Nezikin. Seder Nezikin is the Fifth Seder that I am, Baruch HaShem, finishing.
Today's Siyum is L'iluiy Nishmas my Zeide, Abba Chacnoch Henoch ben Chaim Yehudah Aryeh Leib Hakohen, who passed away this past summer
As always, I would like to thank my mother for supporting my learning and my father for learning with me.
Introduction to Last Mishnah in Messechtas Avos
Pirkei Avos is the second to last mesechta in Seder Nezikin (Horayos is the last) but it is the last Mesechat I learned. The Mesechta is made up of short statements of the Taanaim regarding moral and ethical wisdom and not so much in terms of Halachah. The last perek of Avos is not technically actual Mishnayos, rather it is a Berayso called "Kinyan Torah." It was added to Avos to make sure there were six chapters. This is because many have the Minhag of reading/learning Avos during the period between Pesach and Shavuous (and there are six shabbosim during that time).
Kinyan Torah focuses on the importance of and centrality of torah learning. something that is certainly important as we head into the time of Matan Torah.
The final part of the final Mishnah has become rather famous. Taken from the last Mishnah in Mesechtas Makkos, it was added to the end of Perek Kinyan Torah. Not only that, is it said every week when you finish reading and learning Pirkei Avos. Finally, it is now commonly said after a shiur or other learning in order to allow a person to say Kaddish.
The statement by Rabi Chanaya ben Akashya makes it clear that we do not learn Torah or do Mitzvos because HaShem somehow needs us to do so. He does not.
Rather, HaShem has Rachmanus on us and understands that we want to be able to fulfill his Will and he gives us many many opportunities to do so by giving us many Mitzvos and a whole Torah to study. It is about our ability to build a relationship with HaShem and show Him that we love Him.
The amazing thing is that through Torah and Mitzvos, every single Yid can build that relationship.
...רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן עֲקַשְׁיָא אוֹמֵר, רָצָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְזַכּוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְפִיכָךְ הִרְבָּה לָהֶם תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מב) יהוה חָפֵץ לְמַעַן צִדְקוֹ יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר:
...Said Rabbi Hananiah ben Akashya:
It pleased the Holy Blessed One to grant merit to Klal Yisroel, that is why He gave them Torah and Mitzvos in abundance, as it is said, “The Lord was pleased for His righteousness, to make Torah great and glorious” (Isaiah 42:21).
סליקא לן מסכת אבות וסדר נזיקין