Friday, August 8, 2008

Gittin Daf 29

The Mishna describes a case where there is a messenger to give a Get within Eretz Yisrael, and he got sick, the messenger can appoint a second messenger to give the Get. Rav Kahana in the Gemara explains this is only if he got sick, because it is not his fault, otherwise he should not send it with another messenger.
We can learn from this about our mission in life. We have been given a purpose in life, we are like that messenger, and we are supposed to accomplish the goals that are wanted of us. Unless we fall ill we are expected to complete our purpose and not try to hand it off to someone else to do. In Pirkei Avot 2:5, Hillel says, "B'mekom She'ein Anashim Hishtadel Liheyos Ish" - In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good vort, though I would connect it more to "im ayn ani li, mi li".This is more about fulfilling your own mission while "B'mekom She'ein Anashim.." is referring more to taking a role that may really belong to others.

Ohr Hanegev said...

I hear