Mishna 12:
- Why does Hillel make reference to Aaron the High Priest? Why not just say we should all love peace?
- What is the difference between loving peace and pursuing peace?
- What are some techniques that can be used in helping make peace between two conflicting sides?
- What kind of peace is the Mishna talking about? Peace between nations, communities, individuals?
- How does this Mishna influence the strategy that the State of Israel should take in dealing with other countries and people?
- What is the connection between making peace, loving people, and drawing them close to the Torah? Are they sequential? What is their relationship?
Mishna 13:
- Why do you think this Mishna is written in Aramaic?
- King Shlomo in Mishlei writes that “A good name is better than good oil.” Why is this Mishna taking a negative view about a good name?
- How do you separate proper self-assertion and appropriate efforts to advance yourself from improper self-promotion?
- What is it about learning Torah that is so important?
Mishna 14:
- How does this Mishna relate to the Mishna preceding it about self-promotion?
- How do you find the balance between improving yourself and improving those around you?
- What is the underlying theme of this Mishna? What is it referring to?
- What is the connection between these three ideas?
- What kind of actions does this Mishna encourage the reader to take?
Mishna 15:
- Why is it important to set times for Torah study?
- Besides for setting times to study Torah, what are other ways you can make your Torah study more permanent?
- Actions certainly speak louder than words. Who should be our role models for this philosophy of life?
- What does greeting everyone cheerfully have to do with the first two comments of the Mishna?