More Discussions for this daf
1. The "Nakdan" (Tosfos DH Melech) 2. Tosfos' answer 3. Joseph and Boaz
4. Date of Rebbe Yosi's statement 5. Palti ben Layish and the Isur Yichud 6. Sheker ha'Chein
7. ולבסוף להברותו
DAF DISCUSSIONS - SANHEDRIN 20

Shlomo Zalman Lerner asks:

Dear Rabbis and Friends:

I have always been interested in the well known pasuk from Mishlei, 31:30, of Sheker Hachayn. Our gemara seems to darshan it and apply it to various senarios. such as Yosef, Boaz and Palti, or doro shel Moshe, Yehoshua, and Chizkia, etc.

I would be interested in a deeper understanding of the concept. I have seen the M'harsha.

Here are my precise questions:

1. Is chain a negative concept? We see that Noach matza chain b'eynei Hash-m.

2. Are the conceps of sheker and hevel meant to be relative concepts, one being worse or more negative than the other, or are they independent?

3. From the M'harsha, it seems that until the next higher level is considered, the prior level was thought to be a high level or positive concept in and of itself.

Thank you very much for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Shalom from Atlanta.

Shlomo Zalman Lerner, Atlanta, USA

The Kollel replies:

Reb Shlomo Zalman, it is very good to hear from you again!

1. It seems that there is a distinction between finding Chein in the eyes of Hash-m, which was the case with Noach, and finding Chein in the eyes of other people. The verse in Mishlei 31:30 refers to Chein received from people. This is often questionable, because frequently people do not know what are the true qualities to look for in others. There are many popular individuals who are far from being the best characters according to Torah values. This is why we ask Hash-m, near the end of Birkas ha'Mazon, "And we should find Chein and good Sechel, in the eyes of Elokim and man." It is not sufficient to find Chein in the eyes of people, but in addition this popularity must be backed up with approval from Hash-m.

2. The Vilna Gaon, in his commentary to Mishlei 31:30, discusses the difference between Sheker and Hevel. He writes that "Sheker ha'Chein" refers to someone who is trying to find Chein in the eyes of other people. This very action is a Sheker, falsehood. In contrast, "Hevel ha'Yofi" refers to someone who tries to make himself look beautiful in the eyes of Hash-m. The Vilna Gaon cites the Gemara in Bava Basra 10b that says that "if a person says, 'I am donating this coin to Tzedakah in order that my son should live,' he is a Tzadik Gamur." This action of giving Tzedakah is a good action; nevertheless, it is Hevel.

This is a big Chidush to say that while a person is considered a Tzadik Gamur because of the charity that he gave, at the same time this is considered Hevel. However, I understand it to mean that the Mitzvah that he did really is a beautiful and genuine action of "Yofi" in the eyes of Hash-m. Nevertheless, at the same time, his intentions were Hevel. It seems to me that Hevel means something neutral. It is better than Sheker, because Sheker is a negative, false intention, but Hevel is an empty, albeit harmless, intention.

This is a very important topic, and requires further study, but I will close here for the moment.

Kol Tuv,

Dovid Bloom

Shlomo Zalman Lerner asks:

Dear Rabbi Bloom,

Thank you very much for writing. I have since come across the Maharal in Chidushei Agados on the page in question, who speaks on the topic.

I also heard that chein is more of a subjective concept, and therefore, may be sheker. Whereas, yofi, may be more objective, and more likely to be true, but, nonetheless, remains a fleeting concept.

Ketiva v'chasima tova.

Chodesh tov.

Shlomo Zalman

The Kollel replies:

Reb Shlomo Zalman, Shalom u'Vrachah,

Possibly I can support the distinction you made between Chein and Yofi by observing the root of the two words. The word Chein is related to "Chinam" -- "free." If one receives a free gift it is very likely that it really is worth nothing, even though at first sight it looks attractive. On the other hand, some of the best things in life really are free. Some people possess a real Chein, a real grace, which they may have been born with. This is a free present from Hashem which is in fact priceless.

In contrast, Yofi is always real beauty, but it may still be lacking any spritual content, so it is Hevel, vanity.

Kesivah v'Chasimah Tovah,

Dovid Bloom