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"He (Hillel) used to say, if I am not for me who is for me, if I am for myself what am I, and if not now when."

If there were one quote I would use to sum up Pirkei Avos - and possibly Judaism as a whole - it may very well be this mishna. This mishna tells us straight one of the most important attitudes we must carry with us as we go through life. As Maimonides and Rabbeinu Yonah (13th Century Spanish commentator) understand, the inspiration required to face life cannot come from without. Our teachers, parents, Rabbis may momentarily startle us into proper behavior, but it will be transient. The only way to accomplish in life, to meet deadlines, achieve our goals is to feel a sense of excitement and challenge in our lives, to recognize that each of us has a mission and to face it with vigor. Those of us who saw Rocky III can appreciate that good training, advanced equipment, demanding coaches etc. will never make a great fighter. We need to have the zeal; it has to come from within.

(As a side commentary, a truly great movie (not that this is an endorsement, nor would I consider myself a critic by any stretch) is one which takes a true, meaningful concept - which I can promise you will have been expressed by the Rabbis - and develops a storyline around it. (A little humor helps as well.)

We have a wonderful, 3300+ year old tradition. It has proven itself many times over, has persevered and has allowed us to persevere throughout the centuries. It has outlasted generation upon generation of "new and improved" philosophies, movements and fads. It has spoken and continues to speak to Jews of all different ages and societies. But, we cannot merely sit back and relax in our faith. Every generation - every individual - has to discover him or herself, and develop himself in his beliefs and ambitions. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 111a) states that G-d bemoaned that even Moses lacked the level of pure faith of our forefathers. We can inherit wealth, brains, physical features, and to a great extent social status from our parents. But levels of commitment and accomplishment have to be re-earned with each succeeding generation.

The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 8) tells us that the Jewish People are endowed with certain good traits - to be merciful, bashful and charitable. These national characteristics were bequeathed by our forefathers. They stem from the good qualities they exemplified. Jews - even otherwise completely secular, unaffiliated ones - are often found in the vanguard when it comes to philanthropy and championing social causes. Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner, Lithuanian Rabbi and leader of the 18th to 19th Centuries, explains that many of our purest Jewish yearnings stem from the accomplishments inbred into us by Abraham. Jews feel a special attachment to the Land of Israel because Abraham heeded G-d's call to leave his homeland for Israel. For centuries Jews have mustered the courage to give their lives for their beliefs because Abraham allowed himself to be cast into a fiery furnace. Likewise, we are inquisitive, questioning, sometimes challenging and defiant people, just as Abraham sought G-d on his own, challenging the idolatrous beliefs of his time.

gain, however, good traits and brains certainly give us a head start in life. But our tasks in life can only be done by us ourselves. We will learn (Chapter 2, Mishna 12) "Prepare yourself to learn Torah because it is not an inheritance for you." It is an observed phenomenon that the children of Rabbis do not always follow in their fathers' footsteps. (I wouldn't say they turn out worse than their contemporaries, but it can be argued that statistically they do not turn out better.) Possibly, their father set an example which was too demanding for the children to follow. (We'll discuss this more fully when we get there, hopefully in this millennium.) But we cannot enter life with an attitude that we've inherited our greatness or rabbinical status from our forebears. Our lives are our own. We must take control ourselves.

Hillel continues, "if I am for myself, what am I." Most of the commentators understand this to mean that even if I do inspire myself and accomplish, I am not wholly worthy. My accomplishments can always be greater. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains with a different twist: We need to focus and direct our energies towards ourselves. But we should not become exclusively engrossed in ourselves and our own development. Ultimately, our interest is in making the world a beautiful place. Each of us may focus primarily on ourselves, but this should not cause us to neglect our friends and neighbors. We should never lose site of Judaism's cosmic mission and message to the world. All should see what dedication, inspiration and devotion to G-d does to an individual and a nation.