QUESTION: The Gemara explains that the Mishnah often refers to Rebbi Meir as "Acherim," because Rebbi, the redactor of the Mishnah, did not want to refer to Rebbi Meir by his name. Rebbi Meir had attempted to unseat Rebbi's father, Raban Shimon ben Gamliel, from his position as Nasi, and therefore Rebbi, in deference to his family's honor, referred to Rebbi Meir as "Acherim."

RAV NAFTALI MARYLES zt'l (1828-1890), the RAV of LITOVISK and the son of the Yoruslaver Rebbe, Rav Shimon Maryles zt'l, points out that this Gemara reveals a deeper meaning behind the words of RASHI in Parshas Vayishlach. The Torah (Bereishis 32:8) says that when Yakov heard of Esav's impending approach, "he became very afraid, and he was distressed." Rashi explains that he became "afraid" lest he be killed, and he was "distressed" lest he kill others ("Im Yaharog Hu Es Acherim"). Why, though, was Yakov worried that he would have to kill someone else? Yakov was being pursued by Esav, who wanted to kill him, and the Torah teaches that if one person is being mortally pursued by another, then he is bidden to kill the pursuer in order to protect his own life! Why, then, was Yakov concerned?

Also, why does Rashi say that Yakov was afraid that "he would have to kill others (Acherim)"? He should have said that Yakov was afraid that "he would have to kill Esav"! (MAHARAL)

ANSWER: The Gemara in Gitin (56a) relates that one of the Roman leaders, Niron (the Caesar Nero), converted and became Jewish, and one of his descendants was Rebbi Meir. The Romans descended from Esav, as Rashi points out at the end of Vayishlach. Rashi, therefore, is saying that Yakov was distressed that he might be forced to kill Esav and thereby prevent the birth of Rebbi Meir, who was called "Acherim"!

Rav Naftali of Litovisk points out that a similar theme is found in Rashi in Parshas Shemos (2:12). The Torah there teaches that before Moshe Rabeinu killed the Egyptian slave-master, he looked to all sides to make sure "that there was no one." Rashi explains that this means that he looked into the future to make sure that none of the future descendants of this Egyptian would ever convert and become Jewish, and only then did he kill him. (SEFER AYALAH SHLUCHAH, Parshas Shemos, republished in 2001 by his descendant, Rabbi Ari Maryles. See also PENINIM YEKARIM, Parshas Vayishlach, and KANAH AVRAHAM.)

QUESTION: The Gemara discusses whether it is better to be one who is "Sinai" or one who is "Oker Harim." RASHI (DH Sinai and DH v'Chad) explains that "Sinai" characterizes a Talmid Chacham who has memorized all of the Mishnayos and Beraisos and knows them as if he had heard them directly from Har Sinai. "Oker Harim" describes a Talmid Chacham who is extremely sharp in his methodology of Torah learning ("Mefulpal," as Rashi says), even though his knowledge is not as broad as that of "Sinai."

The Gemara says that Rav Yosef was "Sinai" and Rabah was "Oker Harim." Even though the consensus is that "Sinai" is greater, Rav Yosef deferred to Rabah and let him become the Rosh Yeshiva instead of himself. The Gemara comments that for all of the twenty-two years that Rabah served as the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yosef "did not even call a blood-letter to his house." What does the Gemara seek to teach with this cryptic statement?

(a) RASHI (DH Umna) explains that this statement demonstrates the humility of Rav Yosef. All of the years that Rabah was Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yosef never even called a blood-letter to his own home, which is something a person of prominence certainly is entitled to do. Instead, he would go to the blood-letter's house (or to the resident blood-letter in Rabah's house, as Rashi here explains). This was a way of showing that he did not consider himself an important person.

(b) Rashi adds that some have a text which states that Rav Yosef was so subservient to Rabah that he was always learning in front of him, as a Talmid learns before his Rav. As he was such a devoted and loyal Talmid of Rabah, he never had time to go to a blood-letter. According to this explanation, the Gemara is demonstrating Rav Yosef's diligence.

(c) The TOSFOS HA'ROSH (DH Afilu) quotes others who explain that the Gemara is describing the reward that Rav Yosef received for declining the position in favor of Rabah. The Gemara is teaching that Rav Yosef did not need to solicit the services of a blood-letter all of the years that Rabah was Rosh Yeshiva, either because whenever Rav Yosef needed to let blood, Rabah would arrange a blood-letter for Rav Yosef (RAV HAI GA'ON), or because -- in the merit of humbling himself -- he never became ill. In reward for his humility, he and all of his household were spared from illness during the entire twenty-two year period and did not need the services of a blood-letter at all (RAMAH).

Although the text of the Gemara in Berachos is that Rav Yosef "did not call" ("Kara") a blood-letter for all of those years, the text of the Gemara here in Horayos is that "a blood-letter did not pass (Chalif) by Rav Yosef's house all of those years." Similarly, the DIKDUKEI SOFRIM in Berachos cites a text that "a blood-letter did not approach (Karav) Rav Yosef's house." The Ramah apparently had the text of the Gemara here in Horayos, and that is why he explains that the Gemara is not emphasizing that Rav Yosef did not call the blood-letter, but that he did not need a blood-letter altogether, as the Dikdukei Sofrim here (#70) points out.

(d) The BE'ER SHEVA says that he does not understand how Rashi and the other Rishonim can explain that Rav Yosef deferred the position due to his humility. The Gemara in Berachos explicitly states that Rav Yosef refused to become the Rosh Yeshiva because a Chaldean had told him that from the time he would become Rosh Yeshiva, he would live only two more years! Rashi there explains that Rav Yosef declined the position and let Rabah have it instead, because he understood that if he would become the Rosh Yeshiva, he would die two years later. (Some editions of the Gemara have this text in the Gemara itself.) The Gemara uses this incident to demonstrate that when one allows an opportunity to pass because the time for it is not ripe, the time will come when the opportunity will present itself again and he will then be able to take advantage of it ("Kol ha'Nidcheh Mipnei ha'Sha'ah, ha'Sha'ah Nidches mi'Panav").

Accordingly, Rav Yosef's refusal to accept the position was not an act of humility, but rather an act of Piku'ach Nefesh -- an attempt to save his life!

The Be'er Sheva therefore explains that here in Horayos, the Gemara records this incident in order to illustrate the concept of "Kol ha'Nidcheh Mipnei ha'Sha'ah, ha'Sha'ah Nidches mi'Panav." Because Rav Yosef allowed the opportunity to become Rosh Yeshiva to pass, his destined time of demise was delayed, such that the opportunity to become Rosh Yeshiva returned to him eventually. The Gemara explains that he was so successful in delaying his demise that not only did he not die during that time, but he never even needed a blood-letter during that entire period.

How, though, do the Rishonim -- who explain that Rav Yosef deferred due to his humility -- understand the Gemara in Berachos?

1. The CHOK NASAN and the CHIDA (in SHA'AR YOSEF) answer the question of the Be'er Sheva as follows. How could it be that Rav Yosef was frightened by the advice of some Chaldean fortune teller? We know that the Torah commands us not to listen to such diviners, but to put our trust in Hash-m (Pesachim 113b)! How is it possible that such a great Talmid Chacham would give up the opportunity to teach Torah to the public because of the prediction of some soothsayer? In addition, why does the Gemara here not make any mention of Rav Yosef's concern for the Chaldean's prediction?

The Chok Nasan explains that the reason Rav Yosef declined the position of Rosh Yeshiva was because of his humility. However, he feared that others would not accept his claim that he was not fit for the position, and therefore he presented the reason of the Chaldean's prediction as the reason. The Gemara in Berachos is giving the reason that Rav Yosef told everyone else. The Gemara here in Horayos mentions the real reason -- his humility, and therefore it omits the reason mentioned in Berachos.

However, this answer does not sufficiently explain the words of the Gemara and Rashi here, which imply that Rav Yosef himself took into account the prediction of the Chaldean. Regarding the Gemara in Pesachim which prohibits consulting with Chaldeans, there are a number of explanations in the Rishonim as to why that prohibition does not apply to the case of Rav Yosef (see Insights to Shabbos 156:1).

2. There are a number of manuscripts of the Gemara in Berachos which entirely omit the sentence about the Chaldean's prophecy (see DIKDUKEI SOFRIM there). However, our edition of the Gemara, and the text of Rashi, do have that sentence. In addition, without that text, it is not at all clear how the Gemara proves the principle of "Kol ha'Nidcheh Mipnei ha'Sha'ah, ha'Sha'ah Nidches mi'Panav."

3. The words "Kol ha'Nidcheh Mipnei ha'Sha'ah" imply that Rav Yosef deferred the position not only because he feared for his life, but because he decided that it was not appropriate for him to become Rosh Yeshiva at that time. Accordingly, the Gemara in Berachos is also saying that Rav Yosef deferred due to his humility.

Perhaps the Gemara there may be understood as follows. When Rav Yosef heard the Chaldean's prediction, there were two possible ways that he could have interpreted the prediction. He could have understood that his position of leadership would last only two years, and he deferred the position with confidence that he would have two years of leadership later in his life. However, this is not the straightforward implication of the prediction. A person would normally understand such a prediction to mean that he would live only two years from the time that the opportunity arose for him to become Rosh Yeshiva. This would prompt a person to take advantage of his two remaining years and accept the position, rather than lose it forever by letting someone else have the position. Rav Yosef was able to overcome the impulse to seize the position, according to the second interpretation, due to his humility; in his humility, he preferred to understand the Chaldean's words as an indication that he would eventually gain the position and become Rosh Yeshiva for two years, even if someone else would take the position now. This is how the Gemara here demonstrates that "Kol ha'Nidcheh Mipnei ha'Sha'ah, ha'Sha'ah Nidches mi'Panav," and this is what the Rishonim mean when they say that Rav Yosef deferred the position due to his humility. (See also Insights to Berachos 64:2.) (M. KORNFELD)

QUESTION: The Gemara discusses whether it is better to be one who is "Sinai" or one who is "Oker Harim." RASHI (DH Sinai and DH v'Chad) explains that "Sinai" characterizes a Talmid Chacham who has memorized all of the Mishnayos and Beraisos and knows them as if he had heard them directly from Har Sinai. "Oker Harim" describes a Talmid Chacham who is extremely sharp in his methodology of Torah learning ("Mefulpal," as Rashi says), even though his knowledge is not as broad as that of "Sinai." The Gemara concludes that "Sinai," amassing broad Torah knowledge, is better.

The BE'ER SHEVA asks that this seems to contradict a number of other statements in the Gemara, which clearly teach that the ability to deeply analyze a subject is a more important quality than the ability to amass broad Torah knowledge. The Gemara in Shabbos (31a) teaches that when a person is brought to his final judgment in the heavenly court, he will be asked, "Pilpalta b'Chochmah" -- "Did you profoundly analyze with wisdom the Torah's teachings?" He will not be asked whether or not he amassed a large amount of knowledge, but only whether or not he applied analytical skills to his knowledge.

Similarly, the Gemara in Bava Metzia (85b) relates that Reish Lakish was unable to find the grave of Rebbi Chiya. He understood that the reason was because he was not fit to have the grave of such a great man revealed to him. Reish Lakish complained, saying, "Hash-m! Have I not been Mefalpel in Torah as much as he?" This implies that it is more important to analyze the Torah than to amass Torah knowledge.

Also, the Gemara in Berachos (6b) teaches that the part of Torah study for which a person receives his main reward is analyzing the Torah that he learns ("Agra d'Shema'ata Sevara").

(a) The BE'ER SHEVA answers that there are two types of "Pilpul." One type is the Pilpul that comes easily to a person because he possesses a naturally analytical mind. This is the type of Pilpul to which the Gemara here refers; "Sinai" is considered greater than this type of "Oker Harim." The other statements of the Gemara, which discuss the greatness of one who is Mefalpel, are referring to a person who exerts himself and forces his mind to analyze the Gemara even when it is difficult for him. This certainly is a greater accomplishment than that of a person who simply learns Gemara and amasses a large amount of knowledge without analyzing it. This answer is based on the principle taught by the Mishnah in Avos (5:23), "l'Fum Tza'ara Agra," the reward is commensurate with the effort.

According to this understanding, the same should apply to "Sinai." If a person does not naturally remember all that he has learned, but he must invest a great amount of time and effort in order to retain his learning, he should be considered greater than the person who puts the same amount of effort into Pilpul. It must be that the Gemara is discussing one who is "Sinai" and one who is "Oker Harim" who put the same amount of effort into their achievements; either they both worked hard, or they both were blessed with natural skills. When the Gemara elsewhere emphasizes the analytical approach, it is referring to a person who naturally remembers the Gemara. For such a person, it is more important to put effort into Pilpul. (Even though such a gifted person probably finds that the analytical skills also come easily to him, nevertheless there is no limit to the depth that one can probe in analysis of the Torah. Therefore, it is always possible for a person to receive reward for further pushing himself to analyze deeper. He might not receive reward, though, for amassing more and more Torah knowledge, because he might be the type of person who has a naturally gifted memory for whom amassing knowledge does not require considerable effort.)

(b) The CHOK NASAN answers that the praiseworthy quality of a "Sinai" person is not that he has learned a lot of Torah, but rather that he has retained it all. The Gemara in Megilah (6b) teaches that remembering one's learning depends on Siyata d'Shemaya, Divine assistance, and not on one's own efforts. Therefore, a person cannot be held accountable for failing to fully retain all that he has learned.

When the Gemara in Shabbos states that a person's reward in Olam ha'Ba comes from his Pilpul, it is referring to a person who is not blessed with a perfect memory. Since he does not retain all that he has learned, his main reward will not be for the amount that he has learned, but for the depth of knowledge that he achieved in that which he does remember. Since every person is capable of attaining a certain measure of depth of understanding, he will be held accountable if he does not fulfill his potential, and he will be rewarded if he does analyze what he has learned according to his abilities.

This answer is based on two principles. The first is that a person's reward is in accordance with the degree to which he fulfills his potential. The second is that the reward for amassing Torah knowledge is given only to a person who retains that knowledge; a person is not entitled to such reward just for learning it if he does not retain the knowledge (although, of course, he is rewarded for performing the act of the Mitzvah of learning Torah; see Avodah Zarah 19a ("Kovetz Al Yad Yad"), Pesachim 50a, and Bava Basra 10b ("Ashrei Mi she'Ba l'Kan v'Talmudo b'Yado")).

(c) Perhaps we may suggest another approach. It is clear from all of the Gemaras cited above that the goal of a person's Torah study should be the analysis and understanding of the different sources that he learns during his lifetime. The Gemara in Avodah Zarah (19a) teaches that a person should spend his youth absorbing the teachings of his mentors, and afterwards he should analyze them. A person's goal should be to reach the second stage, analysis and deeper understanding of the Gemara.

The Gemara in Megilah (28b) relates that it happened once that when a person who was an expert in all of the Mishnayos and Beraisos died, the Amora'im could find nothing better to say about him at his eulogy than "we have lost a basket-full of books." This again shows that when a person does not analyze what he has learned, he does not achieve the ultimate objective of Torah study.

Similarly, the Gemara in Berachos (47b) teaches that a person is in the category of an Am ha'Aretz if he has not "served Talmidei Chachamim" -- which RASHI there explains is a reference to analyzing the sources and reasons for the teachings of the Mishnah -- even if he has read all of the Torah and learned all of the Mishnah.

This explains the Gemaras quoted by the Be'er Sheva which show that a person is rewarded for Pilpul, rather than for amassing Torah knowledge.

The Gemara here is not discussing what quality provides the greater advantage to the person himself, but rather what quality provides the greater advantage to the person's students. The Gemara is debating who is preferable as the Rosh Yeshiva. The Gemara concludes that even if the person who is a greater Mefalpel is considered to have achieved a greater degree of Torah learning than the person who has amassed more knowledge, nevertheless the one with the greater amount of knowledge is of greater benefit to his students. The reason for this is that a student can be Mefalpel on his own, even if his teacher does not teach him those skills. However, he will never know the sources unless they are first taught to him.

For a similar reason, the Gemara in Avodah Zarah (19a) teaches that while a person's teacher is still alive, he should be eager to learn from his teacher as many sources as possible, even if he forgets them and even if he does not understand them, since he will have no other opportunity to learn the sources (see RASHI there, DH v'Achar Kach). (See also Insights to Berachos 64:1.) (M. KORNFELD)