- Question of סיני או עוקר הרים
When the Rabbis in Bavel were looking for new leadership in the academy they asked the Rabbis in Eretz Yisroel which type of leader Is preferred, a “Sinai” (סיני) who has a lot of breadth in learning or one who uproots mountains (עוקר הרים) with his sharp analysis? The choice was between Rav Yosef who was a סני and Rabba who was the עוקר הרים.
The Rabbis answered that the סני takes precedence because his encyclopedic knowledge will enable him to easily discover the solution to most problems. Rav Yosef in the end did not accept the position as the Gemara explains and only became head of the academy twenty-two years later after Rabbah’s death.
- ילכו מחיל אל חיל
R’ Levi bar Chiya said that one who leaves the beis haknesses and immediately enters the beis hamidrash to learn will merit to greet the face of the Shechinah as its says, "ילכו מחיל אל חיל יראה אל אלקים בציון" – Go from multitude to multitude, appear before Hashem in Tziyon. The multitudes are referring to those gathered in shuls and those gathered in batei midrashim.
Rav Chiya bar Ashi said in the name of Rav that the passuk is referring to talmidei chochomim have no rest in Olam Hazeh or Olam Habah. The multitudes are referring to the batei midrashim in Olam Habah where talmidei chochomin will continue to climb from one level to the next forever increasing their understanding.
- Talmidei chochomim bring peace to the world
R’ Elazar said in the name of R’ Chanina: Talmidei chochomim increase the peace in the world as it says, וכל בניך למודי ה' ורב שלום בניך – And all your sons will be disciples of Hashem, and abundant will be the peace of your sons. Do not read it as “your sons” (בניך) but “your builders” (בוניך). The passuk is teaching that it is the talmidei chochomim that build the world with their Torah which results in peace in the world.
