Avos 5:14

בס׳ד

אבות ה:יד

Four are the types that visit the Study House: One who goes, but doesn’t do - he keeps the reward of his going; One who does, but doesn’t go - he keeps the reward of his doing; One who goes, and does - here’s the pious! One who doesn’t go, and doesn’t do - here’s the wicked!

אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בְּהוֹלְכֵי לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ. הוֹלֵךְ וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה, שְׂכַר הֲלִיכָה בְיָדוֹ. עוֹשֶׂה וְאֵינוֹ הוֹלֵךְ, שְׂכַר מַעֲשֶׂה בְיָדוֹ. הוֹלֵךְ וְעוֹשֶׂה, חָסִיד. לֹא הוֹלֵךְ וְלֹא עוֹשֶׂה, רָשָׁע:

        In the time of the ancient Sages, the bes midrash was not the exclusive preserve of talmidei hakhamim, people who give their whole lives to learning Torah from the mouth of a Sage.  Rather, many people of simple background would show up on Shabbos or Yom Tov to hear great Sages give shiurim.  The present mishnah offers an observation about the kinds of folks who would attend.

        Well, there’s one type who loves the excitement of the shiur and gets fascinated by the ins and outs of a good sugya.  But he can learn a whole Shabbos about the laws of milk and meat and still be a little careless.  Not to worry, says our mishnah!  He still benefits from listening.

        There’s another who hardly shows up at all and seems unattached to the words of the Sages.  But he soaks up whatever he hears and, more importantly, incorporates it into his behavior.  Surely he benefits from the Torah he has made so intimately his own.

        The third type, who learns regularly and applies his learning to his life, is of course on his way to becoming a talmid hakham himself. His opposite - well, forget it!

&&&