Ein Yaakov – Lesson 014a – Eruvin 13 – Torah Law – Written and Oral – Bais Hillel and Bais Shamai – Torah Study – Difficulties That Protect – Speaker: Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld zal.
00:00 – Halakha (Torah Law) is applied in practice according to Beis Hillel rather than Beis Shammai because the students of Beis Hillel were humbler and softer spoken.
04:08 – Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel disputed whether it was better for a person never to have been born. The mutual agreement was that being born has an advantage.
09:50 – What is the meaning of the Bat Kol (voice emanating from Heaven) validating Beis Hillel’s rulings over those of Beis Shammai? In Heaven, two opposites can exist simultaneously, for instance chesed (loving-kindness) and din (justice). The principle of “…these and these are the words of HaShem” is explained.
14:35 – Rabbinic Laws have the same import as Written Torah Laws. The punishment in Gehinnom for disregarding or mocking Rabbinic words and/or laws is to be boiled in waste matter.
17:45 – An incident from the life of Rabbi Akiva is related as an example of the respect due to Rabbinic Law.
21:35 – Is one permitted to give up or risk his life in order to fulfill a Rabbinic Law? The Rambam’s opinion vs. those of other Rishonim.
25:45 – The proper study of Torah: שחורות כעורב – Hair “black as a raven” or shacharit and arvit (morning and evening prayers). One who studies Torah from early in the morning until late at night will succeed. Another explanation: one who adopts the harsh/black attitude of a raven towards his family will succeed in his Torah studies. Story to illustrate.
30:30 – “Hayom la’asotam” – “…do them today”. HaShem’s quality of Erech Apayim (infinite patience).
*35:20 – Raw onions (white onions) are poisonous. [Red onions and scallions may be eaten raw.] The case of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa is brought as an example. The Gemara, the Baal Shem Tov, and Rebbe Nachman all warn about the danger of eating raw onions.
40:10 – Three things that can cause a person to go against the will of HaShem: association with atheists, lack of control over one’s yetzer hara (evil inclination), and poverty. Prayer is a cure for all three. There are three difficulties a person should accept with love, since they will save him from seeing the face of Gehinnom: poverty, intestinal troubles, and persecution by the government. Also included in these is a wife who makes one’s life miserable.
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