Thirsting for Knowledge - Avot 1:4 - Printer Friendly Version

This mishna offers some practical advice about interacting with and learning from our sages, teachers, and role models.

משנה כתב יד קאופמן אבות א:ד

יוֹסֵה בֶן יוֹעֶזֶר אִישׁ צְרֵדָה, וְיוֹסֵה בֶן יוֹחָנָן אִישׁ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם קִבְּלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. יוֹסֵה בֶן יוֹעֶזֶר אִישׁ צְרֵדָה אוֹמֵר: יְהִי בֵיתָךְ בֵּית וַעַד לַחֲכָמִים, וֶהֱוֵי מִתְאַבֵּק בַּעֲפַר רַגְלֵיהֶם, וְשׁוֹתֶה בְצִמְאָה אֶת דִּבְרֵיהֶם

Yossei ben Yoezer of Tzreida says: make your house the meeting place of the sages, and stick to the dust of their feet, and drink their words thirstily.

The Sforno interprets the first clause as making your home wherever the sages meet. Whether interpreted as opening your home to sages, or making your primary residence the study hall, the first clause prompts us to pursue as much contact with the sages as possible.

The dust of their feet might refer to the tangential or ancillary points made by the sages. These side points nonetheless can be instructive. As the Gemara states:

תלמוד בבלי – עבודה זרה יט עמוד ב

שאפילו שיחת חולין של תלמידי חכמים צריכה תלמוד

Even the mundane discussions of the scholars requires study

Though these ancillary points can provide great value, they are not the essence. One should not lose sight of the primary instruction provided by the sages. Their formal presentations and words of Torah should be consumed thirstily, like the lifeline that they are. Every detail should be pursued, analyzed, and reflected upon, down to the last drop.

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