THE WORLD IS SUSTAINED BY THREE THINGS


משנה מסכת אבות פרק א

משנה ב
שמעון הצדיק היה משירי כנסת הגדולה הוא היה אומר על שלשה דברים העולם עומד על התורה ועל העבודה ועל גמילות חסדים

 

משנה יח
רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר על שלשה דברים העולם עומד על הדין ועל האמת ועל השלום שנאמר (זכריה ח) אמת ומשפט שלום שפטו בשעריכם

Pirke Avot, Mishneh 2: Shimeon Ha Tzaddik, one of the last remaining members of the The Great Assembly, would say that the world stands upon three things, upon The Torah, The Avodah (Temple Service), and Acts of Loving-kindness.

Mishneh 18: Rabban Shimeon Ben Gamliel would say: The world is sustained by three factors, by Justice, by Truth, and and Peace.

Rabbi Shimeon Ben Gamliel said that the world is preserved by three factors, by Law,  Truth, and  Peace. Rabeinu Yona, z’l, noted that the proper understanding of this quotation from Pirke Avot  (Chapters of the Fathers (Principles)) is not that purpose of the world is to achieve Law, Truth and Peace. Rather these factors sustain the world and keep it going. At the beginning of the chapter in Pirke Avot we are told that the world was created for the purpose of  obvserving the Torah, performing the Service in the Temple, and enabling Acts of Loving-kindness.…and this is the meaning of our Rabbis in saying  that whoever renders a truthful judgment is as if he is a partner with the Kodosh Bruch Hu (G-d) in the creation of the world. For G-d created the world that it should continue and thrive.  The wicked who steal and render violence destroy the world..

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טור חושן משפט הלכות דיינים סימן א