מנחות קז

R’ אריה ליב, the 18th century author of the שאגת אריה, was brilliant but had a sharp tongue. Once, while sitting and being דורש in the בית מדרש of Minsk, he was going so deep in his analysis that it could only be described as מגלה עמוקות ועוקר הרים. It went over the heads of even the תלמידי חכמים of the city who were present. They nevertheless went over to him and gave him a hearty יישר כוח. The שאגת אריה returned their compliments by saying that the the חחמי Minsk are greater than the מלאכי השרת. Seeing the look of surprise on their faces, he said: “Why are you surprised? In יחזקאל א, ז, it says concerning the מלאכי השרת that כף רגליהם ככף רגל עגל and as for each of you, even your head is the head of an עגל.”

06/10/2021