הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה
אֲנִי. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי:
He [Hillel] used to say: If I am not for myself, who is for me? But if I am for my own self [only], what am I? And if not now, when? (Pirke Avot 1:14)
Rambam (Maimonides) took this as a comment on a more spiritual, soul-based statement. His commentary:
He said, "If I myself will not be the one that arouses my soul to virtue, who will arouse me, as I have no one to stimulate me from outside," ... "And since it is in my power to incline my soul to any side that I want, what deed have I done from the good deeds." It is as if he is [questioning] himself and saying, "What am I?" [This is] to say, "What is [becoming of] me? I am not complete, even if I did this matter." And afterwards he went back and said, "If I do not acquire these traits now in the days of my youth, when will I acquire them? Not in the days of old age, as it is difficult to veer from [one's] characteristics at that time because the acquisitions and the traits have hardened and settled - whether they are virtues or whether they are vices."
Source #2
אַל תִּפְרוֹשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּ.Do not separate yourself from the community
(Pirke Avot 2:4...also sometimes quoted as 2:5)
Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro, commonly known as "The Bartenura", was a 15th-century Italian rabbi best known for his popular commentary on the Mishnah. In his later years, he rejuvenated the Jewish community of Jerusalem and became recognised as the spiritual leader of the Jews of his generation. HIs commentary:
"Do not separate yourself from the congregation": but rather share in their troubles. As anyone who separates from the congregation will not [live to] see the consolation of the congregation (Taanit 11a).
Bartenura doesn't speak of the opposite, when the community/congregation is not in trouble, but rather meeting with joy. Does that mean that a person who has separated themselves won't live to see the troubled times? What could that mean for one's connection to the community?
*******************************************
What are my obligations to my community/communities?
What happens when the community's views or priorities change and they don't mirror mine?
Why do you choose a community? To fit in, like Pippin?
