Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 2/17/2017, 5:57 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna in Avos (5;7) says "there are seven distinctions between a golem and a wise person....(a wise person) asks relevant questions and answers according to the law".
Continuing on from last week, the fourth distinction between a golem
and a wise person is whether or not they ask relevant questions and answer according to the law.
Although the commentators explain this in regards to Torah learning, that a student should only ask relevant questions and the teacher should only answer according to the law. This can be applied to other situations as well. We should make sure that we ask (and say) relevant questions and comments. A wise person realizes that although they may have a smart question or comment to make the timing might not always be right. The comment may not be relevant for the moment and should be saved for a more appropriate time.
In the same way when we answer people or argue about something our answers should "be according to the law". In many cases we try to look smart and out debate someone even though we know what we are saying isn't really true "according to the law". We simply outsmart the other person even though their viewpoint or argument is actually true.
We should strive to always be true to ourselves and to everyone around us.