ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף שיר השירים 8:13

I said to myself, I will not withhold good from its owners.²⁰Cf. Mishlei 3:27. Nor have I entered beyond my limits and positioned myself among the great,²¹Cf. Devarim Rabbah 2:7. for I have not taken upon myself to develop new concepts. I have only attempted to explain the words of the commentaries, since their intent was not to obscure, but to explain. My intent was to communicate their interpretation in a manner that is easy to comprehend. Thus no one can protest that I have sought a place to buttress²²Cf. Chulin 7a. This expression is often used in Rabbinic works to imply the development of a chidush, a novel insight. beyond my capacity.²³The literal meaning of the words is “the finger of one [who could do such a task] is thicker than my loins” (cf. I Melachim 12:10). Everything is clearly open before you. I know that there is no necessity for what I have done here, my handiwork was only for the youth of the Jewish people. No reader should think that I [undertook this project] for my honor or for the honor of my father’s house.²⁴Cf. Taanis 20a. I only undertook this project in response to the sincere requests of the friends who listen²⁵Cf. Shir HaShirim 8:13. to the reader’s voice asking to accept the truth from the one who utters it.²⁶Rambam, Shemoneh Perakim, Commentary on the Mishnah, Introduction to Tractate Avos.