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The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa: There was once an incident involving R'Yochanan Ben Berokah and R'Elazar ben Chisma, who went to visit R'Yehoshua in Perkiin.
R'Yehoshua said to them: What novel teaching was expounded in the study hall today?
They Said to him: We are your disciples and we drink your waters!
R'Yehoshua said in reply: Even so, it is impossible for scholars of the study hall to conduct a session without expounding a novel teaching. Whose week was it to lecture in the study hall?
They Replied: It was the week of R' Elazar ben Azaryah.
R'Yehoshua again Inquired: And what subject was the discourse today?
They Answered him: on the Torah portion of Gathering (Hakheil - this event took place the evening following the first day of sukkos in the Shemittah year. Everyone would gather in the temple courtyard to hear the king read the book of Deuteronomy)
R'Yehoshua interrogated further: And what did he expound on the subject?
They explained that R'Elazar first cited the following verse: Gather together the people - the men, the women and the small children. R'Elazar then elaborated: We can understand if the men come to learn, and the women come to hear, why do the small children come? (as they are too young to learn or hear). Rather it is on order to give a reward to those who bring them!
[This statement is the basis for the practice of bringing small children to shul]
R'Yehoshua said to them: A Precious Stone was in you hand, and you sought to withhold it from me!?
- Chagigah 3a
4 comments:
What is going to be the purpose of this blog?
I study Gemara everyday in the Daf Yomi cycle. The purpose of this blog will be to highlight interesting stories and questions I come across in my daily Talmud study, and expose them to people who might not ordinarily get the chance to experience the richness and the beauty of the Talmud.
I hear. Good luck.
This can't work in fact, that is exactly what I consider.
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