Monday, September 10, 2012

You ain't Seen Nuthin Yet

Rebbe Chiya bar Abba said in the name of Rebbe Yochanan: The prophets prophesied only about the reward for fathers-in-law of Torah scholars, and other people who support Torah scholars financially.  But regarding the reward for the Torah scholars themselves, Yishayahu says: "No eye has seen what Hashem will do for those who await Him."  (Yishayahu 64:3)

Rebbe Chiya bar Abba said in the name of Rebbe Yochanan: The prophets prophesied only about the days of the Moshiach, but regarding the World to Come, Yishayahu says: "No eye has seen what Hashem will do for those who await Him." (Yishayahu 64:3)

Shmuel, earlier, said otherwise: There is no difference between this world and the days of the Moshiach except for political independence.

Rebbe Chiya bar Abba said in the name of Rebbe Yochanan: The prophets only prophesied about the reward of ba'alei teshuva, but regarding the reward of the perfect tzaddik, Yishayahu said: "No eye has seen what Hashem will do for those who await Him." (Yishayahu 64:3)

Rebbe Abahu, earlier, said otherwise: In the place where ba'alei teshuva stand, even the completely righteous do not stand, as Yishayahu said: "Peace, peace, to the far and to the near." (Yishayahu 57:19)  First to the far, and then to the near.

But Rebbe Yochanan would surely respond: "far" means a tzadik who was far from sin, continuously; "near" means a ba'al teshuva, who was near to sin, and then distanced himself.

(Brachot 34b)

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