Bava Metzia - Daf 85
- Rebbe’s efforts to bring Tannaim’s children back to Torah
The Gemara relates that Rebbe went to the location of Rebbe Elazar ben Rebbe Shimon, and inquired if he had a son. He was told that he has a wayward son, that every harlot who is hired for two, hires him for eight. Rebbe ordained him as a Rabbi and entrusted him to Rebbe Shimon ben Isi ben Lakonia to teach him Torah. The son would ask daily to return to his city, until Rebbe Shimon told him, “They are making you a sage, spreading a gold garment upon you, and calling you ‘Rabbi,’ and you say you want to return to your city?” He swore to drop the matter. He eventually came to Rebbe’s yeshiva, and Rebbe recognized the voice as similar to his father Rebbe Elazar’s. Similarly, Rebbe inquired in Rebbe Tarfon’s location if he had a son and was given the same report about a grandson of Rebbe Tarfon’s. Rebbe told him that if he would repent, he could marry Rebbe’s daughter. He repented, and married and later divorced her, or according to some, never married her, so people should not say he only repented for that woman. The Gemara explains why Rebbe undertook these efforts: כל המלמד את בן חבירו תורה – Whoever teaches his friend’s son Torah, זוכה ויושב בישיבה של מעלה – merits and sits in the Yeshiva Shel Maalah.
- על מה אבדה הארץ...שלא ברכו בתורה תחילה
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: What is the meaning of the passuk: מי האיש החכם ויבן את זאת – Who is the wise man who will understand this…, על מה אבדה הארץ - for what did the land go lost? This question was discussed by the Sages, as well as the Prophets, but they could not explain it, עד שפירשו הקדוש ברוך הוא בעצמו – until Hashem Himself explained it: ויאמר ה' על עזבם את תורתי – “And Hashem said: Because of their forsaking My Torah, etc.” Rav explained: שלא ברכו בתורה תחילה – it means they did not recite the berachah on Torah before learning it. By not being careful to recite the berachah, they demonstrated that they did not sufficiently value the gift of the Torah.
- Rebbe Chiya’s actions to ensure that Torah never be forgotten
Reish Lakish would mark Rabbis’ burial caves, but when he reached Rebbe Chiya’s cave, he could not locate it. Disheartened, he asked, “Master of the World! Have I not deliberated in Torah like him?” A voice came from Heaven saying: תורה כמותו פלפלת – “Yes, you have deliberated in Torah like he, תורה כמותו לא ריבצת – but you did not spread Torah like he.” The Gemara explains that once, when Rebbe Chanina and Rebbe Chiya were arguing, Rebbe Chanina said, “With me you argue? If, Heaven forbid, the Torah would be forgotten from Yisroel, I would restore it through my deliberations!” Rebbe Chiya responded, “With me you argue? דעבדי לתורה דלא תשתכח מישראל – For I ensure that the Torah is not forgotten from Yisroel at all!” He explained that he would sow flax, from which he would weave nets to catch deer. He would feed their meat to orphans, and prepare parchments from the skins, on which he would write the five Chumashim of Torah. He would go to a village without teachers and teach each of five children one of the Chumashim and teach each of six other children each of the six sedarim of Mishnah. He then instructed them to teach each other what they had learned before he returned, thus ensuring the Torah’s continuity. About this, Rebbe declared: כמה גדולים מעשי חייא – how great are the deeds of Chiya!
