daf bit: Eruvin 55

[cellio]

The torah tells us (D'varim 30:12-13) that the torah is not in heaven, that we should say "who shall go up for us and get it?", nor across the sea, that we should say "who will go over and bring it to us?", but it is very close. The rabbis on today's daf discuss this. R. Abdimi b. Hama b. Dosa said: if it were in heaven you should have gone up to get it and if it were across the sea you should have gone over to get it (so it must not be either, I understand him to be saying). Raba said: "it is not in heaven" means it is not to be found with one who towers in pride of his torah knowledge as high as the mountains, and "it is not beyond the sea" means it is not to be found with one whose self-esteem due to learning is as expansive as the sea. R. Yochanan said: "it is not in heaven" means it is not to be found among the arrogant, and "it is not beyond the sea" means it is not to be found among merchants or dealers. (55a)

One of these cases is not like the others; "merchants and dealers" doesn't seem to be about personal qualities like the rest.

According to Raba and R. Yochanan, if you think you have torah and are bold about it, you don't really. Having torah is more than just knowing the law and being able to quote texts; you have to live it too. (This is my own interpretation on their words, obviously. Anything below the citation in these posts always is.)

Comments

[dvarin.livejournal.com]

Not tempered out of reason though IMO. Reading blind to context, this is the primary meaning I'd take out of it also--that there's no justification for delegating to someone else rather than seeking for yourself.