Pirkei Avot Playlist
Hi! In Jewish studies class, I was given the task of making a playlist in which I would match a song to a verse from Pirkei Avot (in my choosing). What I came up with is as follows:
Pirkei Avot Playlist
1) Instant Karma by John Lennon, Avot 2:6
Verse: “He 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)
Song: Instant Karma by John Lennon
I selected the song “Instant Karma” by John Lennon because of the obvious connection between verse 6 and the song. In chapter 2 verse 6 of Pirkei Avot, it is stated: “Because you drowned others, you will be drowned:” (Avot 2:6) If you do something unto others, difficulties will come back to get you, according to this phrase. Karma is another synonym for that conduct. In the song’s first verse it says, John sings “Instant Karma’s gonna get you Gonna knock you right on the head. You better get yourself together Pretty soon you’re gonna be dead” (Lennon). I selected this sentence due to the fact that they are both describing actions coming back to get you.
This statement was also chosen since both of them use death to describe karma. It mentions drowning in the verse, and it mentions karma knocking you out, in the tune. I find it fascinating that they both share that trait. They both relate to one other when they define karma as a violent thing, despite the fact that they explain it in quite different ways. This verse of Pirkei Avot has a lot of similarities to the song “Instant Karma.”
2) See You Again by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, Avot 2:10
Verse: [Rabbi Yochanan] said to them: Go and see which is the best trait for a person to acquire. Said Rabbi Eliezer: A good eye. Said Rabbi Joshua: A good friend. Said Rabbi Yossei: A good neighbor. Said Rabbi Shimon: To see what is born [out of one’s actions]. Said Rabbi Elazar: A good heart. Said He to them: I prefer the words of Elazar the son of Arach to yours, for his words include all of yours.
He said to them: Go and see which is the worst trait, the one that a person should most distance himself from. Said Rabbi Eliezer: An evil eye. Said Rabbi Joshua: An evil friend. Said Rabbi Yossei: An evil neighbor. Said Rabbi Shimon: To borrow and not to repay; for one who borrows from man is as one who borrows from the Almighty, as is stated, “The wicked man borrows and does not repay; but the righteous one is benevolent and gives” (Psalms 37:21). Said Rabbi Elazar: An evil heart. Said He to them: I prefer the word of Elazar the son of Arach to yours, for his words include all of yours.
They would each say three things:
Rabbi Eliezer would say: The honor of your fellow should be as precious to you as your own and do not be easy to anger. Repent one day before your death.** Warm yourself by the fire of the sages, but be beware lest you be burned by its embers; for their bite is the bite of a fox, their sting is the sting of a scorpion, their hiss is the hiss of a serpent, and all their words are like fiery coals.
Song: See You Again by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
I selected this song (“See You Again”) because it has a connection to 2:10 of Pirkei Avot. Although the similarities between the two are not striking, they do have several characteristics in common. Because I only identified parallels in the last paragraph of chapter 2 verse 10, I decided to concentrate just on that paragraph. The paragraph’s opening sentence states “The honor of your fellow should be as precious to you as your own, and do not be easy to anger. Repent one day before your death.” (2:10 Avot) To me, this sentence has the meaning of dying with honor because it means a lot. I completely agree with that. In the second verse of the song, it says “Those were the days, hard work forever pays” (Khalifa). You want to be thinking about whether you worked hard throughout your life when you’re on your deathbed, in my opinion. Respect and honor come from hard labor. Both the song and the verse are interconnected because they both describe dying with honor and dignity and working hard your entire life in order to be able to die knowing that you gave everything you have to the world and that you have honor for others. In some aspects, these two verses are very similar, and I believe they have certain commonalities when viewed from a different perspective.
3) Goodbye I’m Sorry by Jamestown Story, Avot 2:11
Verse: Rabbi Joshua said: an evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred for humankind put a person out of the world.
Song: Goodbye I’m Sorry by Jamestown Story
The song “Goodbye I’m Sorry” by Jamestown Story and 2:10 of Pirkei Avot directly connect to each other and happen to have very similar meanings to both. In chapter 2 verse 6 of Pirkei Avot, it is stated that “an evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred for humankind put a person out of the world.” (Avot 2:10) This entire quote, in my opinion, implies that terrible words and abusive behaviour might cause someone to commit suicide. This is undoubtedly true, and more people should be aware of it. I can’t pick just one element of the song because it’s all about suicide. “Goodbye I’m Sorry” is a song about how people might contribute to suicide. This song is directly related to the content of this verse in Pirkei Avot since it discusses suicide induced by unkind comments.
4) Count On Me by Bruno Mars, Avot 2:12
Verse: Rabbi Yose said: Let the property of your fellow be as precious unto you as your own; Make yourself fit to study Torah for it will not be yours by inheritance; And let all your actions be for [the sake of] the name of heaven.
Song: Count On Me by Bruno Mars
The song “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars is very much like 2:12 of Pirkei Avot. The verse describes how you should treat other people’s properties the way you treat your own. “Let the property of your fellow be as precious unto you as your own” (Avot 2:10). The song “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars is all about being able to trust your friends and just people in general with the things that are important in life. In the chorus of the song Bruno sings “You can count on me like one, two, three I’ll be there I’ll be there” (Mars). They’re linked since the song is about relying on others, and the verse emphasizes how to respect other people’s property. If you were to change the point of view in the verse, it would be wishing for others to respect your possessions. Being able to rely on others. The significance of this phrase in Pirkei Avot is directly related to this song.t.
5) Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, Avot 2:15
Verse: Rabbi Tarfon said: the day is short, and the work is plentiful, and the laborers are indolent, and the reward is great, and the master of the house is insistent.
Song: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
To me, the “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey has a diminutive connection to chapter 2 verse 15 of Pirkei Avot. The verse, in my opinion, is about how labor is difficult and the day is short, therefore we should make the most of our time and work hard. A valuable life lesson as well. This, I believe, is about how you should work hard no matter how difficult it is to persevere. The song “Don’t Stop Believing” is about how you shouldn’t give up and how you should always keep going! The similarities between the two are that they all involve working through difficult circumstances and not giving up!