Ein Yaakov – Pesachim 22b – Rabbi Shimon HaAmsuni and the Word את – “Et” – Finding the Right Marriage Partner – Definition of Am HaAretz – Talmid Chakham – Speaker: Rabbi Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld zal. (ey-lesson-016b. Recorded in 1970.)
00:00 – Every word in the Torah has infinite depth. Rabbi Shimon HaAmsuni expounds on the meaning of the word את – “et” – one of the smallest and seemingly insignificant words in the Torah, yet one of the most profound.
08:17 – The prophet Iddo warned King Yeravam about idol worship. When the king raised his hand against the prophet, the king’s arm immediately shriveled up (1 Melachim 13:1-6). HaShem defends the honor of a tzaddik much more than He defends His own honor.
10:23 – The importance of showing respect to a talmid chakham – Torah scholar.
*15:00 – A person who shows respect to Torah scholars is rewarded with success in his own Torah study and with children who follow the path of the Torah.
15:38 – When a person innovates new technology, they are destroyed by their own inventions.
19:32 – A Torah scholar should not attend any festive meal that is not a seudat mitzvah.
21:00 – A bat kohen should only marry a kohen or a Torah scholar.
22:12 – Advice for finding the right marriage partner.
25:07 – Investigating the brothers of an intended bride. Priorities in choosing the right marriage partner: above all, choose someone who has emunat chakhamim – faith in rabbis.
31:05 – An am haaretz is a person who has no faith in rabbis. There are several definitions in the Gemara: 1) one who doesn’t recite the Shema morning and night; 2) one who doesn’t put on tefillin; 3) one who doesn’t wear tzitzit; 4) one who doesn’t have mezuzot on his doors; 5) one who has no faith in rabbis.
32:21 – Proof that the truest of these definitions is the last one: an am haaretz is one who has no faith in rabbis.
*33:22 – A wealthy person who lacks education in Torah is not considered an am haaretz if he uses his wealth to support Torah. In fact, such a person is considered a Talmid Chakham – literally, both: “a student of a rabbi” and “a wise student”.
34:07 – Definition of a Bat Talmid Chakham: a girl or woman who was raised, or who has raised herself, to have faith in rabbis.
35:20 – Why an am haaretz is compared to an animal.
Podcast (shiurim): Download (Duration: 36:54 — 21.1MB)
To dedicate this shiur, click HERE.