[Avodah] Adam vs. Ish

[Micha Berger]

On Fri, July 13, 2007 3:10 am, Eli Linas wrote:
: 	Anybody have any yedios about the difference between adam and ish
: (aside from Meir Shapiro's arvus vort)? Please give mekoros?

See another blog entry based on a shiur listened to while commuting.
In this case, R' Yitzchak Blau on KMTT out of "Gush". The URL,
<http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2007/04/universalism.shtml>. Here's the
relevant snippet:

9- R' Yitzchak Blau on Ki miTzion Teitzei Torah
<http://kmtt.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=171398> (starting at 25:25)
points out that the Tif'eres Yisrael explains three mishnayos in Avos
in universal terms.

a- Hillel asks us to try to be mitalmidav shel Aharon (one who is from
among the students of Aaron), which in part means being someone who is
"oheiv es haberi'os — literally: loves the creatures" (Avos 1:12).
Beri'os is a pretty universal term for humanity, not confusable for a
limitation to other Jews.

b- Lest you think this attitude is specific to Hillel, the Tif'eres
Yisrael also learns this lesson from Shammai's words: "havei meqabeil
es kol ha'adam beseiver panim yafos — receive all people with a
pleasant expression on one's face" (Avos 1:15).

Is this "ha'adam" universal? The Tif'eres Yisrael cites a Tosafos to
show that while "adam" sometimes means "everyone in our conversation",
"ha'adam" is always about all of humanity. R' Blau likens it to an
announcement in shul "Everyone can vote for shul president". Obviously
"everyone" is limited by context. This is how Tosafos explain the
gemara, "'adam ki yamus ba'ohel' - atem keruyim adam."

However, Tosafos point out, this is not true of "ha'adam". And
therefore the TY concludes that this mishnah obligates you to show
that warmth to Jew and non-Jew.

c- While "adam" may be ambiguous, it's not ambiguous when used in
contrast to "Yisrael." And so, the Tif'eres Yisrael reads the
following mishnah:

    [R' Aqiva] used to say, "Beloved is man, for he was created in the
"Image" [of G-d]. It was an extra [show of] love that it was made
known to him that he was created in the image of G-d, as it is
said, 'For in the image of G-d He made man.' (Bereishis 9:6)

    Beloved are Israel, or they were called children of the
Omnipresent. It was an extra [show of] love that it was made known
to them that they were called children of the Omnipresent, as it
is said, 'You are children of Hashem your G-d.' (Devarim 14:1)

    Beloved are Israel, for to them was given the instrument by which
the world was created[, the Torah]. It was an extra [show of] love
that it was made known to them that they had the instrument
through which the world was created, as it is said, 'For I give
you good doctrine; do not forsake my Torah.' (Proverbs 4:2)

Therefore, the mishnah is saying that all human beings are chavivin
because they are created betzelem, and the Jews are noted for having
extra gift — being selected to represent Hashem among peoples, and
getting the Torah. But every person is previous. Regardless of color,
abilities or appearance. (This Tif'eres Yisrael is worth seeing,
particularly the Boaz, as he waxes quite poetic about people who
advanced mankind.)
--- ad kan leshoni --

Tir'u baTov!
-mi

-- 
Micha Berger             Spirituality is like a bird: if you tighten
micha at aishdas.org        your grip on it, it chokes; slacken your grip,
http://www.aishdas.org   and it flies away.
Fax: (270) 514-1507                            - Rav Yisrael Salanter