Steven Friedell asked:
Dear Rabbi Kornfeld:
Is there perhaps any connection between the problematic words "kachalinhu l'eineih" or "v'nakhbinhu l'eineih" in Berakhot 58a and the words "likhiuhu l'eineih" in Sanhedrin 27a (4 lines from the bottom)? In both cases Rashi interprets them to mean "poke out his eyes". In both cases there are several variants in the text and I wonder if the correct text in both places might not be based on the same root.
Steven F. Friedell
Rutgers Law School
friedell@crab.rutgers.edu
The Kollel replies:
Excellent point! Perhaps the intention of our Gemara is like the Gemara in Sanhedrin, that the Beis Din blinded him as a penalty for disgracing Rav Sheshes.
M. Kornfeld