פסחים-סח

The גמרא in סוטה מט tells us that רב יוסף was modest.  Yet, in מסכת פסחים סח, the גמרא records רב יוסף as telling his servants on שבועות to prepare a third born calf for him to celebrate the day which caused him to learn תורה, placing him on a level higher than others.  אם לא האי יומא דקא גרים, “But for this day on which the תורה was given, I would not be the person that I am.  כמה יוסף איכא בשוקא, there are many יוסף in the market.”  In fact, however, the reference to יוסף is a play on his name and there was no immodesty here.  What רב יוסף was saying is that in the marketplace of ideas there are many things that get added, יוסף, but it is the giving of the תורה on שבועות which caused him to be the person he was.

05/07/2020