Spikes in your Ears

Rabbi Bar Kappara expounded:
The handiwork of the righteous is greater than the handiwork of (G-d in creating) the heavens and earth.

For concerning the handiwork of the heavens and earth it is written [Isaiah 48:13]: Also, My hand has laid the foundation of the earth and my Right hand has spread out the heavens.

(This verse suggests that the heavens and earth were created with one hand)

But Concerning the handiwork of the righteous, it is written [Exodus 15:17]: The Foundation of your dwelling place that you has hem has made the sanctuary, my Lord, that your hands established.

(i.e. Scripture is suggesting that the Temple which was built by the righteous was created by two hands)


Rabbi Bar Kappara expounded:
Why is it written: You shall have a spike in addition to your weapons/azeinecha [Deuteronomy 23:14]. Do not read Azeinecha (weapons) But rather Oznecha (Meaning your Ears).

(Thus the phrase should say.. You shall have a spike in addition to your ears!)

For a person hears something that is not proper he should place his finger (which is tapered like a spike) in his ears.

The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa: A Person should not allow his ears to hear idle talk, Because they (the ears) are the most easily burned of the limbs.

(When a person sins, he contaminates his limbs. This creates a heavenly fire in Gehinnom that will ultimately exact retribution from the sinner. The point of the baraisa is that when one listens to forbidden speech, they will thus be the first limbs to be involved in the transgression, and they be the first to be burned by the heavenly fire. Rashi draws a parallel by the fact that the ears are physically the most easily burned as well. This Baraisa adds that one should not even listen to idle talk because this can easily lead to forbidden talk)


Kesubos 5a/b