\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In fact, the Talmudic sages already touched upon this question.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 “Rav Papa said to Abaya, \u2018How were the earlier (sages) different (i.e., better, than we, so) that miracles befell them … (while) miracles don\u2019t befall us? <\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is it because of the (quality of our respective) studies? (That can\u2019t be it, because) during the days of Rabbi Yehudah (one of the earlier sages) they only studied Nezikin<\/i> (i.e., only one of the six orders of the Talmud), while we study the entire Talmud. <\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And (why is it that) when Rabbi Yehudah was studying Tractate Okatzin<\/i> he was able to say…, \u201cI sense the gist of (the arguments of) Rav and Shmuel\u201d<\/i>, while we study Okatzin<\/i> in thirteen academies (yet we don\u2019t merit that)? <\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And (why is it that) as soon as Rabbi Yehudah would take off a shoe (to begin his preparations for a fast so to alleviate a drought) that rains came down, while we torment ourselves and cry out (for rain), and yet no one (in Heaven) notices?\u2019 <\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Abaya replied, \u2018(It\u2019s all because) the earlier (sages) were willing to sacrifice their lives to sanctify God\u2019s name\u201d (Berachot<\/i> 20A).<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Ashlag explains this all as follows.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 While it was clear to both Rav Papa and Abaya that the earlier (sages) were greater than they in Torah-knowledge and in wisdom (it was also clear) that Rav Papa and Abaya themselves were (nonetheless) more worthy than the earlier (sages). <\/b><\/p>\n
On the one hand, the earlier sages were less meritorious than those in Rav Papa and Abaya\u2019s generation in fact because they studied less Torah than they, fewer people studied it in their time, and because their hearts didn\u2019t break when they saw others suffering; yet the earlier sages were more meritorious than the latter, since they were worthy of quick insight and solutions to their problems, and they were capable of great self-sacrifice.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Hence it\u2019s clear that even though the earlier (sages) were greater (in fact) than the latter, nonetheless as a consequence of the rule that \u201cthe more subtle is fashioned and brought into the world first\u201d, it\u2019s still-and-all true that more of the Torah\u2019s wisdom is able to be revealed in the latter generation.<\/b><\/p>\n
(c) 2013 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In fact, the Talmudic sages already touched upon this question. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 “Rav Papa said to Abaya, \u2018How were the earlier (sages) different (i.e., better, than we, so) that miracles befell them … (while) … Continue reading