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VORT ON PIRKEI AVOS - פרק ב : משנה ג
Perek Beis - Mishna Gimmel
הוי זהירין ברשות, שאין מקרבין לו לאדם אלא לצורך עצמן, נראין כאוהבין בשעת הנאתן ואין עומדים לו לאדם בשעת דחקו. (אבות ב:ג)
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.
The translation of the word “רש” is poor. “הוי זהירין ברשות” – be careful not to be pained that Hashem didn’t give you money that you are poor. One shouldn’t think they would have many friends if they were wealthy. As Shlomo Hamelech writes in Mishlei (14 20): “ואוהבי עושר רבים”. Don’t be jealous of the affluent person’s friends “שאין מקרבין” – they aren’t close to him, they only need his friendship for “לצורך עצמן” – the benefits they gain from being in acquaintance with the wealthy person. As long as they are at the receiving end, “נראין כאוהבין בשעת הנאתן” – they are friends, but “ואין עומדים לו לאדם” – they do not stand by him “בשעת דחקו” – when he becomes poor and is in need.
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