Avos 3:12

בס׳ד

אבות ג:יב

Rabbi Ishmael says; Hearken to your Superiors; Be fair to your juniors; And greet everyone with joy.

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי קַל לְרֹאשׁ, וְנוֹחַ לְתִשְׁחֹרֶת, וֶהֱוֵי מְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם בְּשִׂמְחָה:

        Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha was Rabbi Aqiva’s favorite disputing partner.  The Mishnah and Talmud contain hundreds of disputes between them.  In fact, a special collection of midrashim, the Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael (on the Book of Shmos), records many of the teachings of the school of Rabbi Ishmael.  A corresponding Mekhilta of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai transmits the Aqivan tradition.  While Rabbi Aqiva’s style of midrash could milk even the individual letters of the Torah and their shapes for clues to HaShem’s will, Rabbi Ishmael is famous for insisting that “the Torah expresses itself in plain language” (dibrah torah kilshon bnei adam).  Rabbi Ishmael’s point of view remained a minority one.  Most of the surviving Oral Torah reflects the Aqivan belief that “the Torah was given to be interpreted” (nitnah torah lehidaresh).

        Nothing could be more straightforward in “plain language” than Rabbi Ishmael’s advice here.  The point is to cultivate a very clear sense of where you stand in the scheme of things.  Know precisely who exceeds you in honor and achievement and be quick to acknowledge their achievement and learn from them.  At the same time, when you occupy a position of honor or achievement above someone else, extend them the dignity they deserve by virtue of their status as HaShem’s creation.  And finally, whether dealing with those above of below, bring joy to whomever you encounter.

        Shammai, you’ll recall from Avos 1:5, met everyone “cheerfully.”  According to Rambam, Rabbi Ishmael’s choice of “joy” (simkha) seems to require a step beyond.  Rather than simply being pleasant with others, he wants us to actively induce in them the sense of joy that will enable them to fulfill the highest of religious imperatives: ivdu es HaShem besimkhah, serve God in joy.

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