נדרים עט

In מסכת פסחים נ, the גמרא states אשרי מי שבא לכאן ותלמודו בידו. Why does the גמרא say תלמודו בידו? It seems that it would be more appropriate to say תלמודו בראשו. An answer may be found in שבת 88 in an incident involving רבא and a Sadducee, who saw him learning תלמוד. The גמרא states: ויתבה אצבעתא דידיה תותי כרעא, Rava had placed the fingers of his hands under his his leg and was so focused on his learning that he was crushing them וקא מבען אצבעתיה דמא, and blood was flowing from his fingers. Thus, the reference in פסחים to תלמודו בידו is certainly appropriate.

06/10/2021