(5) On the divine books or book, see Exodus XXXII, 35. Malachi III, 16, and Daniel VII, 10, etc. The heavenly "Book of Life" is prominently mentioned in the ritual of the New Year and the Day of Atonement, especially in the celebrated prayer, _U-netanneh Tokef_ of Rabbi Amnon of Mayence. The New Year's greeting, "May you be inscribed for a happy year!" is evidence of the popularity of the idea of a divine book in which the fate of a man is written. See the _Jewish Encyclopedia_, art. _Book of Life_. 2. Rabban Gamaliel, the son of Rabbi Judah, the Prince, said, "Excellent is the study of _Torah_ combined with some worldly pursuit (6), for the effort demanded by them both makes sin to be forgotten. All study of _Torah_ without work must at length be futile, and leads to sin (7). Let all who are employed with the congregation act with them for Heaven's sake, for then the merit of their fathers sustains them, and their righteousness endures for ever (8). And as for you (God will then say), 'I account you worthy of great reward, as if you had wrought it all yourselves.' 3. Be on your guard against the ruling power (9); for they who exercise it draw no man near to them except for their own interests; appearing as friends when it is to their own advantage, they stand not by a man in the hour of his need." 4. He used to say, "Do His will as if it were thy will. Nullify thy will before His will, that He may nullify the will of others before thy will." (6) The expression _Talmud Torah_ (lit., "study of the Law") means the study of all sacred learning. The word _Torah_, here, is to be construed in its broadest sense. See chapter I, n. 4. Such study was one of the duties to which no limit was fixed (_Peah_ I, 1). The expression [derech eretz] means "good manners" (chapter III, 21), or "worldly business," or "care" (chapter III, 6), according to the context. Study combined with some trade or profession is, according to R. Gamaliel, the proper thing. See chapter IV, n. 24. (7) Cf. _Kiddushin_, 29a, "He who does not teach his son a trade teaches him to be a thief." (8) In every community, the work and goodness of past generations live in the present, and the good that the community does in the present will live on in the future. On the "merit of the fathers" ([z'chut avot]), see Schechter, _Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology_, chapter XII, especially pp. 175-177, where this passage is quoted. (9) This verse is directed toward the leaders of the community. Cf. above, chapter I, 10.