Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways,
which it lists for us. The fiftieth of the 48 is mechavein et sh'muato, working to understand, precisely, the lesson one hears.
Obviously, we need to invest effort in order to understand the lessons we are taught. However, I think there is more involved: The Talmud discusses the importance of repeating the ideas one is taught by his mentor (Succah 28a, Yoma 66b, Berachot 27b), and of even matching the language used by his mentor (Shabbat 15a). This, perhaps, is what it meant by understanding "precisely" the lesson one hears - to ensure accuracy in the transmission of Torah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Showing posts with label Rebbe relationship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rebbe relationship. Show all posts
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Sunday, June 3, 2012
An original Torah thought
Hi,
"They asked R' Eliezer: Will so-and-so enter the next world? He replied: You asked me about this other person?
"They asked: Is a shepherd obligated to save a lamb from a lion? He replied: You only asked about the lamb?
"They asked: Is one obligated to save the shepherd from a lion? He replied: You only asked about the shepherd?
"They asked: May a mamzer inherit? He replied: May a mamzer perform yibbum?
"They asked: May one line his home with lime today [after the destruction of the Temple]? He replied: May one line a grave with lime today?
"He did not want to lead them afield verbally, but he never said that which he had not heard from his rebbe."
(Talmud, Yoma 66b)
To which the Sfat Emet commented:
"It appears that this was specifically while their rebbe lived; they avoided this as a stringency, for their rebbe's honour, even when it was legally permitted. After their deaths, though, the students taught and judged."
(R' Yehudah Leib Alter, Sfat Emet to Yoma 66b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"They asked R' Eliezer: Will so-and-so enter the next world? He replied: You asked me about this other person?
"They asked: Is a shepherd obligated to save a lamb from a lion? He replied: You only asked about the lamb?
"They asked: Is one obligated to save the shepherd from a lion? He replied: You only asked about the shepherd?
"They asked: May a mamzer inherit? He replied: May a mamzer perform yibbum?
"They asked: May one line his home with lime today [after the destruction of the Temple]? He replied: May one line a grave with lime today?
"He did not want to lead them afield verbally, but he never said that which he had not heard from his rebbe."
(Talmud, Yoma 66b)
To which the Sfat Emet commented:
"It appears that this was specifically while their rebbe lived; they avoided this as a stringency, for their rebbe's honour, even when it was legally permitted. After their deaths, though, the students taught and judged."
(R' Yehudah Leib Alter, Sfat Emet to Yoma 66b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Originality in Torah study
Hi,
"Once R' Eliezer stayed in the Upper Galil and the residents asked him about 30 laws of succah. For twelve he said, "I've learned this," and for eighteen he said, "I have not learned this."… They said to him, "All of your words are only received tradition!"
"He replied, "Will you compel me to say something I haven't heard from my rebbeim [mentors]? No one has ever preceded me to the study hall, I have never slept for extended or brief periods in the study hall, I have never left anyone behind me in the study hall, I have never spoken of mundane matters, and I have never said anything I did not hear from my rebbe.""
(Talmud, Succah 28a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Once R' Eliezer stayed in the Upper Galil and the residents asked him about 30 laws of succah. For twelve he said, "I've learned this," and for eighteen he said, "I have not learned this."… They said to him, "All of your words are only received tradition!"
"He replied, "Will you compel me to say something I haven't heard from my rebbeim [mentors]? No one has ever preceded me to the study hall, I have never slept for extended or brief periods in the study hall, I have never left anyone behind me in the study hall, I have never spoken of mundane matters, and I have never said anything I did not hear from my rebbe.""
(Talmud, Succah 28a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Respect for one's mentor
Hi,
"R' Eliezer said: One who prays behind his rebbe [mentor], greets and responds to his rebbe, disagrees with his rebbe's school, or says something he did not hear from his rebbe, causes the Shechinah to depart from Israel."
(Talmud, Berachot 27b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"R' Eliezer said: One who prays behind his rebbe [mentor], greets and responds to his rebbe, disagrees with his rebbe's school, or says something he did not hear from his rebbe, causes the Shechinah to depart from Israel."
(Talmud, Berachot 27b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Don't embarrass your rebbe
Hi,
Mishlei 23:1-3 says, "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, contemplate that which is before you. Place a knife to your throat if you are a person of great hunger. Do not desire his delicacies; they are the bread of deceit."
"If a student knows that his mentor will be able to answer his question with insight, then 'Contemplate'.
"If not, 'Contemplate that which is before you [independently, rather than embarrass him], and place a knife to your throat [rather than ask and embarrass him].
"'If you are a person of great hunger' [to ask your question], leave that mentor."
(Talmud, Chullin 6a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Mishlei 23:1-3 says, "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, contemplate that which is before you. Place a knife to your throat if you are a person of great hunger. Do not desire his delicacies; they are the bread of deceit."
"If a student knows that his mentor will be able to answer his question with insight, then 'Contemplate'.
"If not, 'Contemplate that which is before you [independently, rather than embarrass him], and place a knife to your throat [rather than ask and embarrass him].
"'If you are a person of great hunger' [to ask your question], leave that mentor."
(Talmud, Chullin 6a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Showing respect
Hi,
"Rabbi Elazar said: A Torah scholar [lit. "student of a sage"] who does not stand before his mentor is identified as wicked, and will not live long, and his learning will be forgotten."
(Talmud, Kiddushin 33b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Elazar said: A Torah scholar [lit. "student of a sage"] who does not stand before his mentor is identified as wicked, and will not live long, and his learning will be forgotten."
(Talmud, Kiddushin 33b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Rebuke your rabbi
Hi,
Preface: The Torah says (Vayyikra 19), “הוכח תוכיח You shall rebuke, you shall rebuke.”
“One of the sages asked Rava, “Shall we interpret that to mean, 'You shall rebuke' – once, 'You shall rebuke' – even twice?
“Rava replied, “The first 'You shall rebuke' means even one hundred times.
“The second 'You shall rebuke' teaches me: I might have thought that only a mentor should rebuke his student; how would I know that a student should rebuke his mentor? Therefore the Torah says, 'You shall rebuke, you shall rebuke' – In any situation.”
(Talmud, Bava Metzia 31a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Preface: The Torah says (Vayyikra 19), “הוכח תוכיח You shall rebuke, you shall rebuke.”
“One of the sages asked Rava, “Shall we interpret that to mean, 'You shall rebuke' – once, 'You shall rebuke' – even twice?
“Rava replied, “The first 'You shall rebuke' means even one hundred times.
“The second 'You shall rebuke' teaches me: I might have thought that only a mentor should rebuke his student; how would I know that a student should rebuke his mentor? Therefore the Torah says, 'You shall rebuke, you shall rebuke' – In any situation.”
(Talmud, Bava Metzia 31a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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