Avos 4:11 - Mitzvos and Aveiros as Defenders and Prosecutors

Machshavah Lab

This evening (9/29/22), in our Thursday Night Pirkei Avos shiur, we took up a mishnah in Chapter 4 in hopes that it would help us to up our mitzvah and teshuvah game for the Aseres Ymei Teshuvah. We examined two approaches: an original approach inspired by the Rambam, and an attempt at understanding Rabbeinu Bachya's approach which was ALSO inspired by the Rambam, as well as the Malbim on Iyov. We didn't answer all our questions, but we did emerge with a new way to look at mitzvos, aveiros, teshuvah, and maasim tovim which (God willing) will help us to make the most of the remaining Aseres Ymei Teshuvah.
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מקורות:
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות תשובה ג:ג-ד; ח:ו; פרק י
אבות ד:יא
רמב"ם - פירוש המשניות, אבות ד:יג
רמב"ם - מורה הנבוכים ג:לא
https://kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/2015/07/angelic-advocates-and-accusers.html
Joey Lichter's notes on Rav Pesach Chait's shiur on Malchiyos, Zichronos, and Shofros (9/24/08)
רשב"ם - אבות ד:יא (מובא במדרש שמות)
רבינו בחיי - אבות ד:יא
מלבי"ם - איוב לה:ח-ט
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This week's Torah learning has been sponsored by Joey and Estee, whom I'd like to thank for being such an important part of my life.
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