The First Chapter to LIFE.

"Moses received the Torah from Sinai and gave it over to Joshua. Joshua gave it over to the Elders, the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets gave it over to the Men of the Great Assembly."

The first paragraph of Ethics of the Fathers start off with the line above, and many ask the question why does it matter that Moshe received Torah from Sinai and passed it on and on and on....

Also why does it say Moshe received Torah from Sinai?, Moshe received Torah from GOD.

The simple explanation to the first question is to show you that our Torah has a source, it's not just made up and came from no where. A deeper lesson you can learn from this is what we see at the end of Pirkei Avot and in Masechet Megila daf 15. "haomer davar beshem omro mevi geula laolam" (one who says something in the name of its speaker brings redemption to the world)

When the Sages wrote Pirkei Avot (ethics of the fathers) they wanted to teach us right in the beginning that no matter what we say we must always bring the source. Our gaava (pride) makes us say things as if we came up with them and many times we take credit for ideas and statements we didn't originate, However the lesson is to overcome this desire of Kavod and learn to be Anav (humble).

That is also the answer to why it says "Moshe received Torah from Sinai", the Midrash tells us that the mountains came in front of Hashem and told him that the Torah should be given upon them due to their size and height, yet Hashem chose the smallest of all, what looked like a Hill next to all the other mountains, that was mount Sinai.

We learn from here that Torah can only be "bought"/"Studied" by Anava (humbleness). Our biggest rabbais are undoubtedly the most humble people in the world, they never think of themselves as anything more than other people and they welcome each person with much love and caring and that is the foundation for receiving our Torah!

(Inspired by the words of Rabbai Greenman)

Shavua Tov everyone much Hatzlacha!