Avot 3:9
What should be prioritized: wisdom or compassion?
专讘讬 讞谞讬谞讗 讘谉 讚讜住讗 讗讜诪专, 讻诇 砖讬专讗转 讞讟讗讜 拽讜讚诪转 诇讞讻诪转讜, 讞讻诪转讜 诪转拽讬诪转. 讜讻诇 砖讞讻诪转讜 拽讜讚诪转 诇讬专讗转 讞讟讗讜, 讗讬谉 讞讻诪转讜 诪转拽讬诪转. 讛讜讗 讛讬讛 讗讜诪专, 讻诇 砖诪注砖讬讜 诪专讘讬谉 诪讞讻诪转讜, 讞讻诪转讜 诪转拽讬诪转. 讜讻诇 砖讞讻诪转讜 诪专讘讛 诪诪注砖讬讜, 讗讬谉 讞讻诪转讜 诪转拽讬诪转.
Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa says, whoever鈥檚 fear of sin comes before his wisdom, his wisdom will last. Whoever鈥檚 wisdom comes before his fear of sin, his wisdom will not last. He also would say, whoever鈥檚 [good] deeds are greater than his wisdom, his wisdom will last. Whoever鈥檚 wisdom is greater than his [good] deeds, his wisdom will not last.
Comment
Rabbinic society gave great priority to wisdom. Elsewhere, the rabbis taught that 鈥淭orah study equals all the other commandments.鈥� And yet, the Sages realized that wisdom also contained a double threat. The pursuit of wisdom could easily lead to arrogance and to isolation from other people. This mishnah serves as a corrective. Wisdom is lasting only when built upon a foundation of reverence and of association with others.
Question
We raise our children with high expectations for academic accomplishment, which is often measured by high grades, test scores, and completion of prestigious academic programs. How can we ensure that such accomplishments are kept within a framework of humility and service?
