In Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) Chapter 5 it says that a man who has reached 30 years has attained (full) strength. As I reflect upon the meaning of this passage this year I’ve come to another conclusion about what it means for me.
Not surprisingly the Mishnah is drawing upon the Torah when it says this. The Kohanim (Priests) in the Temple were able to take part in more of the service of the Temple sacrifices when they reached 30 because they were considered at their full strength and could carry many of the heavier accoutrements that were part and parcel to the sacrifices.
When I reflected on that verse again this year I saw a little deeper into myself and came up with my own p’shat (simple derived meaning) that I’d like to share here:
I think that Judaism usually puts little emphasis on actual physical strength and more so on mental prowess and refined character traits. So in this case in one’s 3rd decade I reasoned that the strength that is talked about in the Mishnah must also be another kind of strength than merely physical. I then looked at what strengths do I possess that I only acquired in my 30th year? The conclusion was an easy one to make.
My whole life I was always very judgmental of others (although I rarely expressed this outside of myself), and I was also extremely pessimistic and cynical. Thank G-d that I’ve eradicated the pessimism and cynicism a few years ago with Hashem’s help and am now a bonifide “optimist”. But the character trait I gained in the beginning of my 3rd decade was an ayin tov (good eye). A good eye is generally understood to be the ability of one to see the good in others around him with little to no effort…that you’re everyone’s biggest fan and that you want them to be given honor over you and to be successful, etc. I can say that genuinely I feel this way about most people I meet, and for sure the guys here at my yeshiva (school).
So what’s really my strength that I only gained at turning 30/31 more specifically? That B”H I can see the support and good that I’m surrounded with, and that I feel nothing but thanksgiving to G-d for blessing me with such excellent family, friends and rebbeim. I came to the conclusion that truly I am the man I am today because of my family, friends and rabbis that are in my life…and especially the fine examples of human beings that I have the privilege of attending yeshiva with, and this is of whom I write now.
Never before in my life have I been grouped with such a chashuv and inspirational group of people! Men who want to change the world…starting with themselves. We have guys here that are fresh out of college (and a few still in) who’s driving desire is to get closer to G-d and to be made into better people, better Jews, better sons, and G-d willing one day, better husbands and fathers. Unbelievable! I literally tear up when I think about it. When I was fresh out of college I was light years behind these guys. Imagine what they’ll be like when they turn 31? It gives me such chizuk (encouragement) for the future of klal Y’srael (people/greater community of Israel) to see so many of her future leaders in my midst.
I look over and I see such-and-such, and I think, “Wow…he’s really good at ‘X’ and I want to learn that from him…” and then I look at another and think the same thing for a different reason. Everyone here is an expert in something for me to emulate and learn from. I sit at my teachers’ feet. It is this inspiration and proximity to greatness that lifts me up and makes me want to struggle and stretch and grow to be counted among them! I am a pauper among kings and I’m standing on the shoulders of giants…and I thank G-d for everything…for allowing me to reach this day and for giving me this understanding.
May I have another year full of growth and insight and closeness to Hashem…
