In the second chapter of
Ethics of our Fathers we learn about the five students of Rabbi Yochanan ben
Zakkai. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai is famous for several reasons. He was a great
sage and tsadik and when he saw that the Temple’s destruction was imminent he
risked his life to discuss the situation with the warring Roman general
Vespasian. Vespasian was very clever and wanted Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai
beholden to him, therefore he was willing to grant him something valuable as a
pledge. As a result he permitted Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai to set up a yeshiva
in Yavneh. This yeshiva was to become the center of all Torah learning.
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai had
five principle students. In the second chapter of Ethics of our Fathers, he
gives their names, describes what was most praiseworthy about each of them,
what each considered the best and worst character traits, and their three
guiding principles. Rabbi Elazar the son of Arach was praised as a fountain
that overpowers. He believed the best thing a person could have was a good
heart, and the worst thing was a bad heart. His guiding principles were: 1) to be
diligent in Torah study, 2) Know how to answer a heretic, and 3) know before whom you are working , specifically that he is
reliable, the master craftsman, and he will give you a proper wage for your
work. Concerning having a good or bad heart Rabbi Yochanan agreed with Rabbi Elazar
and added that whatever the others said it was included in these
characteristics.
There is a debate as to which
of the students was the greatest. The Mishna generally states that it was Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenus. However it also brings the opinion
of Abu Shaul, who states that it was Rabbi Elazar ben Arach. Both were
considered very great scholars and Maimonides comments about both of them. The
virtue of Rabbi Eliezer was that he learned a lot and remembered it all.
Concerning Rabbi Elazar, he could easily understand the depths of an idea and,
in line with this the Bartenura adds that he was broadminded and would add
analysis and explanations from his own sources of knowledge. From the Talmud we
learn that he was an expert on both the revealed and hidden Torah.
There is a story in the Ethics of our
Fathers by Rabbi Nathan (14:6) which implies that Rabbi Elazar ben Arach was a
little different from his fellow students and had a close special relationship
with his rabbi, Yochanan ben Zakkai. In it Rabbi Yochanan is in mourning for
his son and his students came to console him. Rabbi Eliezer came first and
explained that Adam the first man had also lost a son. Rabbi Yochanan was not
comforted and replied, “Do I not have enough of my own pain that you have to
mention the pain of Adam?” Rabbi Yehoshua followed and pointed out that all of
Job’s children died on one day. He too received a reply like the first of the
students. Rabbi Yossi followed mentioning the Aharon the Cohen Gadol had lost
two sons, then Rabbi Shimon mentioned that King David had lost a son. However
the reply of Rabbi Yochanan stayed the same.
After they were all done, Rabbi Elazar came
in and said to Rabbi Yochanan, let me take you to have a nice bath. After the
bath he said, let me tell you a parable. There was a man by whom the king left a
valuable item for safekeeping. Every day the man would cry and shout, oy when
will I be discharged from this responsibility in peace? That is the way it is
with you my rabbi. You had a son and you taught him the Bible, customs and
ceremonies, and the lore of being a Jew. He departed from the world without
sin. You should be consoled that you have returned this deposit in perfect
condition. Rabbi Yochanan replied, my son, you have comforted me in the way
that people can be comforted.
The Talmud (Shabbos 147b) continues the
story that all of the students went to Yavneh, but Rabbi Elazar went to a
relaxing place in the Galilee. He hoped to set up a yeshiva, but nobody came.
When he considered also going to Yavneh, he asked his wife for her thoughts on
the subject. She asked him who needs who more? He told her that he was more
important to them. She then replied does a barrel of wine or a loaf of bread go
to the rats? Rabbi Elazar stayed put but gradually forgot his learning. One day
they called him to read the Torah. He confused the letters and instead of
reading, “this month is to you”, he said, “this deaf mute was their heart”.
With that the rabbis prayed for him and his knowledge returned.
The overall idea is what makes a person
into an overwhelming fountain. At times one must deal with very difficult
people and it’s especially difficult if they are talmidei chachamim. The answer
seems to be that a person must be both wise and good hearted. He must also have
trust in G-d even when things turn out very strangely. It may take some time
and difficulty but in the end such a man will be a winner in Yiddishkeit.
לע"נ בן דוד שמואל בן נח ז"ל
נלב"ע טו באב תשס"ט
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