Perek Shira - The Song of the Ant

[Music] [Applause] [Music] the aunt says go to the end lazy one watch its ways and become wise with these words the wisest of men king directs the lazy to go to the aunt and learn from it the virtue of discipline work this tiny insect can be seen throughout the summer carrying food many times its size in order to store it for the winter the ant is the epitome of industriousness it is a simple insect with almost no personal needs and yet it knows no rest some ants require only a weak kernel and a half in order to live out their short lifespans and yet they hoard masses of grain with seeming foresight that perhaps they will live much longer ants function as a complex super organism their methods of building their intricate colonies tracking food navigating their way back home reproducing and expanding attacking and defending would put to shame the greatest of human armies [Music] most noteworthy there are no rulers or officers standing over them to instruct and discipline them yet each and fulfills its function with wisdom and alacrity they are also known to conduct themselves with seeming honesty if an ant drops kernel of grain others will smell it and not take it so it was not to steal from another the existence of the myriad ant colonies that thrive around the planet is a god-sent message to mankind it sings of the virtues of discipline organization foresight and healthy hard work even the most lethargic can be made wise by contemplating it thus the lonely end in truth sings a divine song it displays the traits of conduct by which the creator's world performs imperfect symphony [Music] go to the ant lazy one watch its ways and become wise from the most basic of creatures we learn the most basic of lessons it is common sense for one to utilize the time he has been granted to achieve that purpose for which he has been created effective usage of the body and the mind is neither tedious nor damaging it is the natural function of the capable and thinking man on the contrary lethargy and inaction foster negative emotions and are altogether unhealthy for a person the more one Labor's the more he will become inspired to achieve yet more and you will be both physically and emotionally satiated those that do not wish to use their lives productively are not only giving up on what is good for themselves they are also passively destroying the world that ash M created to be settled and developed if the end which needs almost nothing to live its insignificant life carries loads many times its Metz and of greater quantity than it now needs all the more so should we whose lives are truly significant the Jewish nation needs to amass enough Torah and mitzvot to last it eternally in the world to come moreover we have a king overseeing US watchfully we should be wise to shake off the bonds of lethargy and merit eternal goodness if we do not listen to the song of the end who shall [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]