The rabbi of the community slaughtered a lamb and shouted: "The Tzaddik is dead, the Tzaddik is dead"

Many are familiar with the phrase "the main thing will be human beings" but the rabbi of the community wanted to prove to his people that human existence has meaning in this world, and he decided to take action

The rabbi of the community slaughtered a lamb and shouted: "The Tzaddik is dead, the Tzaddik is dead"

Tractate Eruvin Daf Kad (Photography and Editing: Walla! NEWS)

Who does not know the phrase "the main thing to be human"?

But what does that mean?

Is being a human being the pinnacle of aspirations?

Maybe there is something higher than that, that we can reach?

The answer to the question can be learned from a story that appears in Tractate Eruvin, page 25.

There is a story about Rabbi Yochanan, who studied with Rabbi Hezekiah.

Hezekiah asked a difficult question in Halacha, and Rabbi Yochanan knew how to solve it.

Hezekiah was so impressed with the wisdom of Rabbi Yochanan, and gave him a great compliment.

According to one version, he said of him "This is not a man, but an angel!"

And according to another version, he said just the opposite, "This is what a human being looks like."

Seemingly these two versions contradict: Is the compliment to be human - or not to be human?

Rabbi Chaim David Kowalski, presenter of the digital gemara, explained that there are two ranks to strive for here.

Being a good person is important, it's basic - but it's just the first floor.

The people of Israel have a special role: not to be satisfied with human existence, not just to be a good and nice and respectful person - but to move even further up.

What is it like to be a good person?

Distribution of food to the needy.

Illustration (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Food distribution by the Home Front Command in Bnei Brak, April 10, 2020 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Stories about one rabbi, who used to prove to the people of his town that they were negligent in keeping the Torah and the mitzvos.

Those people did not understand what he wanted from them: "Reverend Rabbi," they said, "After all, we are good people - not murderers, do not steal, do not cheat ... we are righteous!".

What did the rabbi do?

One night he took a sheep from his pen, slaughtered it, covered it with a tallit and began to shout: "The righteous man is dead."

When everyone gathered to see who the Tzaddik was - the rabbi showed them that it was a sheep.

"What are you wondering about?"

The rabbi asked them.

"After all, you always tell me that you are righteous because you do not murder, do not steal, do not lie, etc. If so, then in your opinion this lamb is a very great righteous man - he also never murdered, did not steal, did not utter a lie."

This story teaches that if the purpose of our existence in the world is only to be a good person, not a murderer and not a thief, then Gd did not have to create us with mind or with soul.

If Gd has given us all these skills that set us apart from animals - a sign that our role is greater.

More important.

It is not enough just to be good and nice people.

This is very important - but it's just the base, the first floor.

From there you have to keep moving forward.

The rabbi slaughtered the lamb only to prove to the members of the congregation.

Illustration (Photo: Omar Miron)

Passover Sacrifice, Sacrifice of the Samaritans on Mount Gerzim, April 2011 (Photo: Omar Miron)

Want to learn more topics according to the Gemara?

This is your chance to join the digital gemara venture.

This is a project in which you will watch a daily video clip based on the daily page presented by Rabbi Kowalski, founder and head of the Maorot Daf Yomi organization.

As part of this, each person can be part of hundreds of thousands in Israel and around the world who take care to regularly study one page of Gemara a day, by watching a short daily video.

The section on being a good person is based on the daily page in Tractate Eruvin, page 25, and is also published in full on the Digital Gemara website.

In this section, you will meet daily at significant and fascinating points related to daily life, based on the daily study of the Gemara.

The project is free of charge for its participants.

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