Here we’ll list seven different blessings that are considered to be beneficial by people when they utilize the Beracha (blessings) for a good purpose. The Mishnah says that they are fitting for the righteous and fitting for the world. Basically, all seven of these things could be used in a positive way or a negative way.
Beauty, for example: if a person is handsome and admired by other people, they’ll listen to what he has to say, and he could positively influence them. But on the other hand, someone’s good looks could be a Yetzer Hara (evil inclination), and they could be used to get involved in immoral behavior.
Strength: you could use your strength to protect the vulnerable, or you could use it to take advantage of people and hurt them.
Number three, wealth. If Hashem made you wealthy, you have the ability to use your money in the right way: to support Torah, to commit acts of chesed (loving-kindness), and to do all good. Or you could take your money and pursue nonsense in this world, buy expensive pleasures and desires, and really do nothing substantial with it.
Honor: if a person is honored by other people, they’ll listen to him. So when he says something, if it influences them in the right way, he’s doing good. If he’s telling them to do negative things, it’ll be bad.
Wisdom: if a person is wise and uses his knowledge to teach Torah to other people, it’s positive. But if he uses his knowledge to acquire improper honor that he doesn’t deserve or to manipulate people, that would be a negative thing.
Then we said old age and ripe old age: Zikna (old age) and Seiva (ripe old age). Those are the additional years of life that Hashem blesses somebody with if he uses his time wisely and spends those days engaged in Torah and attaining Olam Haba (the world to come). He’s doing the right thing. But if he’s just indulging in pleasure, then he’s wasting his time.
And lastly, Banim (children). If a person raises his kids in the ways of Torah, he is doing something beneficial. But if he’s allowing them to do whatever they want, then he is doing something negative.
And we’ll prove all of these from Pesukim (verses). The Pasuk (verse) says, “The crown of splendor is ripe old age and is going to be found on the path of the righteous.” So over here we prove that old age is a quality that can be used in a very positive way. And likewise, “The crown of the wise is their wealth.” So here we see wealth could be a positive thing.
“The crown of the elder is his grandchildren.” We see from here that the grandchildren being discussed are ones who obviously have fear of Hashem. And therefore, we praise these grandparents for raising their children and then their grandchildren in the right ways.
“And the glory of children is their parents. The splendor of youth is their strength.” Strength is one of the praises that we mentioned. And the glory of elders is ripe old age, like we mentioned too. Old age: elders can be learned from and listened to, and they can spend their time doing the right thing.
“The moon is going to be humiliated and the sun is going to be ashamed because Hashem is ruling on Mount Zion, and Yerushalayim is going to be honor for His elders.” So we see here that honor is a positive thing as well. If people are listening to the rabbis and honoring them, then the Shechinah (Divine Presence) is dwelling with the people, and that’s the praise over here.
Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya says these are the seven qualities that the rabbis listed, and they were all found by Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi and his children because they lived a life focused on Torah, using all the gifts that Hashem gave them in a positive way and influencing people to follow the Torah. All the ways of the Torah.