זבחים נב

At the installation of the new רב of a city, his father in law, a גדול בתורה, said that the new רב was qualified to be רב of a small town.  When he saw the surprised look on the faces of those present, he explained: “In a large city it’s not absolutely necessary that the רב be a גדול בתורה because if there is a question that he can’t answer, there are other תלמידי חכמים that he can turn to. The רב of a small town doesn’t have that option.”  Afterwards, his other son in law, who was not a גדול בתורה or בחכמה, said that it was time that his father in law find him a position.  His father in law responded: “I love you, but there is no city in the world that is large enough for you to serve as a רב.”

06/10/2021