For Jewish Studies class, we were told to pick 5 verses from perkei avot and relate them to songs.
Verse 1: “Be careful with the government, for they befriend a person only for their own needs. They appear to be friends when it is beneficial to them, but they do not stand by a person at the time of his distress” (Avot 2:3).
- Bye Bye Boris: I really wouldn’t wanna be anyone in real need
With you in charge unless of course you’ve got loads of
Money Money Money Money
“Be careful with the government, for they befriend a person only for their own needs. They appear to be friends when it is beneficial to them, but they do not stand by a person at the time of his distress.” (Avot 2:3) This verse means that the government is very picky about when to show friendship. I think that this verse is truthful in many ways. In the song that I picked, Bye Bye Boris by Humphrey Milles, it is stated that “I really wouldn’t wanna be anyone in real need with you in charge unless of course you’ve got loads of Money” (Milles). The song is about how bad Boris Johnson is, but it has the same message as the sages back then. I think that says a lot about how much the government has changed over time. It hasn’t changed that much if a song now and a sage then had the same ideas.
Verse 2: “Which is the right path for man to choose for himself? Whatever is harmonious for the one who does it, and harmonious for mankind.”
- Midnight Train To Georgia: So he hung all his hopes
And he even sold his own car, hmm
Bought a one way ticket back
To the life that he once knew
“Which is the right path for man to choose for himself? Whatever is harmonious for the one who does it, and harmonious for mankind.” (Avot 2:1)
I think that this passage means that you might have to give up your own hopes and dreams for the sake of others. The song represents this perfectly, saying “So he hung all his hopes And he even sold his own car, hmm Bought a one-way ticket back To the life that he once knew” (Gladys Knight & the Pips.) Given the context of the song, it means that he was forced to give something important to him up for someone else. This is a very good characteristic to embody, but it can also hinder you. You need to set boundaries. Although it is nice to do something for someone else, giving up your hopes and dreams to do so isn’t a good thing. You will be bitter for the rest of your life.
Verse 3: “He also saw a skull floating upon the water. Said he to it: Because you drowned others, you were drowned; and those who drowned you, will themselves be drowned.”
- Little Lion Man: But it was not your fault but mine, and it was your heart on the line. I really f*cked it up this time, Didn’t I, my dear?
“He also saw a skull floating upon the water. Said he to it: Because you drowned others, you were drowned; and those who drowned you, will themselves be drowned.” (Avot 2:6)
I chose the song “Little Lion Man” by Mumford and Sons because it’s about the underlying guilt. This verse is talking about karma, but I have different views. It’s talking about the circle of life: eat and then be eaten. But the cycle has to start somewhere. Somewhere out the was an innocent person who got eaten or drowned in this instance. That’s where my song comes in. “But it was not your fault but mine, and it was your heart on the line. I really f*cked it up this time, Didn’t I, my dear?” (Mumford and Sons). The song talks about the first victim. It was not your fault but mine, and it was your heart on the line. This means that although he started the cycle, he feels bad about it. It means that although he killed, he felt guilt.
Verse 4: “The day is short, the work is much, the workers are lazy, the reward is great, and the Master is pressing.”
- A Hard Day’s Night: It’s been a hard day’s night. And I’ve been workin’ like a dog
“The day is short, the work is much, the workers are lazy, the reward is great, and the Master is pressing.” (Avot 2:15)
This verse embodies much of what people today believe and live through. “The day is short, the work is much, the workers are lazy, the reward is great, and the Master is pressing.” (Avot 2:15). I go to OJCS, which means that I also feel these things. The song that I chose for this verse is essentially saying the exact same thing. It’s been a hard day’s night. And I’ve been workin’ like a dog. It’s been a hard day’s night, I should be sleeping like a log.” (The Beatles). This again reflects on the harsh working conditions of many workers, but most importantly minimum wage workers. When you are working in a job like a restaurant or a fast-food chain, you have to be working all day every day. It’s things like this that make me reflect on my own lifestyle. I hope that you do the same.
Verse 5: “The wicked man borrows and does not repay; but the righteous one is benevolent and gives.”
- I Won’t Let Go: I will stand by you. I will help you through. When you’ve done all you can do. If you can’t cope. I will dry your eyes. I will fight your fight. I will hold you tight. And I won’t let go
“The wicked man borrows and does not repay; but the righteous one is benevolent and gives.” (Avot 2:10)
This verse is a very important one, and although there is a clear message here, I’m choosing to ignore it in favour of another one. The clear message is that the wicked man takes and does not give, and the righteous one gives and does not take. I’m choosing to ignore the wicked man completely and focus on the good man. Giving does not mean in the literal sense of giving and taking. I’m interpreting it as giving emotionally and physically. “I will stand by you. I will help you through. When you’ve done all you can do. If you can’t cope. I will dry your eyes. I will fight your fight. I will hold you tight. And I won’t let go” (Rascal Flats). This corresponds to the quote because he is giving not a physical thing, but he is giving his friendship and himself to his friend.