Avodah Zarah, Daf Yod Tet, Part 1
Introduction
Today s section begins with a derashah on a verse that sounds similar to the verse expounded in daf 18.
"אשרי איש ירא את ה’" אשרי איש ולא אשרי אשה?
א"ר עמרם אמר רב אשרי מי שעושה תשובה כשהוא איש
ר’ יהושע בן לוי אמר אשרי מי שמתגבר על יצרו כאיש.
Happy is the man that fears the Lord (Psalms 112:1): Happy is the man and not the woman?
R. Amram said in the name of Rav: Happy is he who repents while he is still a man.
R. Joshua b. Levy said: Happy is he who overcomes his inclination like a man.
Psalms 112 says happy is the man who fears the Lord and the Talmud quite interestingly asks why a woman who fears the Lord should not similarly be happy. As a response to this difficulty, two amoraim offer different interpretations. The first is that one is happy if he repents while his inclination to sin is still strong while he is still a man, and not only once he is old and his inclination has weakened. The second interpretation is somewhat similar happy is the one who conquers his evil inclination like a man. Clearly, these are still very gendered images.
"במצותיו חפץ מאד" אר"א במצותיו ולא בשכר מצותיו והיינו דתנן הוא היה אומר אל תהיו כעבדים המשמשין את הרב על מנת לקבל פרס אלא היו כעבדים המשמשין את הרב שלא על מנת לקבל פרס
Who desires his commandments exceedingly: R. Elazar said: His commandments, but not the reward of His commandments. This is what was taught, He used to say, Be not like servants who serve the master on the condition of receiving a reward; but be like servants who serve the master without the condition of receiving a reward.
R. Elazar reads into the verse that to be happy one should serve God without the hope of any external reward. This same message is found in a mishnah from Avot.
"כי אם בתורת ה’ חפצו" א"ר אין אדם לומד תורה אלא ממקום שלבו חפץ שנאמר (תהלים א, ב) "כי אם בתורת ה’ חפצו"
But whose desire is in the Torah of the Lord. Rabbi said: One can learn Torah only in a place which his heart desires, for it is said, But whose desire is in the Torah of the Lord.
One can learn Torah, gain wisdom, only if one is in the place that one wants to be. I think this is one of the deepest sayings concerning Torah that I know. And it is true about most things in life one can learn and grow only if one is happy and satisfied with where one is.
לוי ור"ש ברבי יתבי קמיה דרבי וקא פסקי סידרא. סליק ספרא לוי אמר לייתו [לן] משלי. ר"ש ברבי אמר לייתו [לן] תילים. כפייה ללוי ואייתו תילים. כי מטו הכא "כי אם בתורת ה’ חפצו" פריש רבי ואמר "אין אדם לומד תורה אלא ממקום שלבו חפץ" אמר לוי רבי נתת לנו רשות לעמוד
Levi and R. Shimon the son of Rabbi were once sitting before Rabbi learning verses. When the book was concluded, Levi said: Let the book of Proverbs now be brought in. R. Shimon the son of Rabbi however said: Let the book Psalms be brought. They forced Levi and the book of Psalms was brought. When they came to this verse, But whose desire is in the Torah of the Lord, Rabbi said: One can learn Torah only in a place which his heart desires Whereupon Levi remarked: Rabbi, You have given me the right to rise.
This is a fascinating story on many levels. First of all, it provides a glimpse into how the sages studied Bible, at least on occasion. It seems that they finished one book before opening another. Moreover, they studied from physical books and not memory. Second, we can see the power relationship between Levi and Rabbi s family. Levi seems to be forced to sit there, until he can justify leaving. Third, it is an ironic statement coming after Rabbi s beautiful derashah. Rabbi, perhaps unwittingly, but perhaps not, has created a situation where one of the top sages in his own Bet Midrash no longer wants to learn Torah there.