Rabbi Glatstein discusses the enduring relevance of Rabban Yochan Ben Zakai's approach.
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The opening of this shiur, in Rabbi Daniel Glatstein’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.
asked for anything. He could have even asked to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash. But, all he asked for was "Yavneh v'chachameha." The Chofetz Chaim interpreted it as follows. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai at first was Rabban shel kol Bnei Hagolah. Now, Bnei Hagolah is Rabban shel Yisrael. However, the majority, the multitude were not listening to him. So, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said, "Not a problem. Just give me a little space to be able to continue to teach Torah from there." from there." And the Chofetz Chaim says, "Hashem's malchus is different than the melech basar vadam. The malchus of melech basar vadam is dependent on numbers. Hashem's malchus is inherent. Therefore, as long as there is a secure space that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai could teach Torah lefi mahalach haShas, according to his halachah, then it's not relevant how many people are there, as long as his approach could be preserved. be preserved. So we have a footnote on this. This actually comes from the safer Chaim Chadash. The Chofetz Chaim says this approach of Yochanan ben Zakkai, that it's not about the numbers, it's about the purity of the approach, is has a long-standing precedent. This was not invented by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. Says the Chofetz Chaim, "The Chaim Gavna Hoyo Bereishis Mach Savorina." This was the approach of the Jewish people from our very origins. Avraham people from our very origins. Avraham Avinu Hoyo Echad She'Nisdave Ambasador Avraham Avinu was a alone adherent to Hashem. The Nimrod the first of many of the wicked ones says, "Nimrod pursued him, threw him to the fire." Um Hoyo Seif Hadavar Hashem saved him. And then Hashem saved him from Paroh and from Avimelech and from the four kings. And in the end, everybody knew who Avraham Avinu was.
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- 1:01asked for anything. He could have even asked to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash. But, all he…
- 1:31from there." And the Chofetz Chaim says, "Hashem's malchus is different than the melech basar vadam.…
- 2:01be preserved. So we have a footnote on this. This actually comes from the safer Chaim…
- 2:33people from our very origins. Avraham Avinu Hoyo Echad She'Nisdave Ambasador Avraham Avinu was a alone…
- 3:03everybody knew who Avraham Avinu was. Avraham Avinu was proclaimed Melech Al Kol Ha'Olam. Even the…
- 3:35and he became an Uma Shleima. And where did it all come from? Avraham Avinu said,…
- 4:07No nation comes out of them. No shavet comes out of them. And from Avraham Avinu,…
- 4:37And when their tenure is over, nobody even knows that they were there. But today but…
- 5:07message, and his word endures ad hayom hazeh in every beit midrash in the world, they're…
- 5:37and then the Chofetz Chaim says ulifnei Avinu gam kein kol ish sheyoresh kol Avraham Avinu…
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