1. The Maharsha explains that Uktzin is not only a very difficult tractate, but it is also the last Masechta in the Shas. This is a hint that in order to reach the level at which one can teach Torah to the whole of Klal Yisrael, the Nasi must know the entire Torah from the beginning to the end. Only then can it be said about him: "Who is worthy of telling the powers of Hash-m? He who is capable of relating His entire praise." Only one who can impart Torah from beginning to end can be the Prince of the Jewish People.

2. The Maharsha cites another Gemara that illustrates how knowledge of Uktzin is a sign of Torah greatness. The Gemara in Ta'anis (beginning of 24b) relates that when Rav Yehudah would reach Maseches Uktzin in his cycle of learning, he would comment, "I can see the Havayos (difficulties) of Rav and Shmuel here." Rav Yehudah meant that since he was a Talmid of the two Gedolei ha'Dor, Rav and Shmuel, he was sensitive to the fact that he felt that he did not possess as deep an understanding of Uktzin as his teachers had, and consequently he was unable to emulate the discussions of his great mentors.

3. The Be'er Sheva (Horayos 14a, DH Amar Rabbi Yochanan) adds an additional insight for the uniqueness of Uktzin. The Gemara (14a) records a dispute between Raban Shimon ben Gamliel and the Rabanan about what type of Talmid Chacham is greater, the one who is "Sinai" or the one who is "Oker Harim" (uproots mountains with his arguments). "Sinai" represents a scholar whose learning is very orderly, as if it had just been received at Har Sinai (see Insights to the Daf). The Be'er Sheva writes that the reason why this dispute is mentioned specifically here is that it is a continuation of the dispute between Rebbi Meir and Rebbi Nasan on one side, and Raban Shimon ben Gamliel on the other. Rebbi Meir and Rebbi Nasan argue that Raban Shimon ben Gamliel's knowledge of Uktzin was not sufficiently organized (as Rashi writes on 13b, DH d'Leis), and therefore he could not be considered the Nasi. Rebbi Meir argued that even though Raban Shimon ben Gamliel might be able to say brilliant ideas in different areas of Torah, he was not in sufficient command of the deepest and final Masechta in Shas.

4. Finally, the Ben Yehoyada gives an insight based on the Hebrew language to explain why Raban Shimon ben Gamliel was challenged particularly with Uktzin. The word "Uktzin" refers to the stalks by which the fruit is connected to the tree. Maseches Uktzin deals with Halachos concerning the Tum'ah and Taharah of fruits which are affected by the Tum'ah and Taharah of their stalks (the very end of the fruit, just as the tractate is at the very end of Shas), which protect the fruit and serve as their "Shomer." However, Uktzin has another connotation as well. "Uketz" means to sting. When they demanded that Raban Shimon ben Gamliel give a Derashah on Uktzin, this was a way of hinting that they wanted to sting him by suggesting that his knowledge of the Masechta was not sufficient. Rebbi Meir was consistent with his view in Yoma (83b) that he would expound the meaning of people's names. Here, too, he pointed out that the name "Uktzin" refers to stinging, because this difficult Masechta tests a person and shows whether he really possesses Torah greatness.

Kol Tuv,

Dovid Bloom