Two Types of Am Haaretz: The Donkey and the Dog

Full Summary

This shiur analyzes a complex Gemara (גמרא) in Bava Basra 8a that discusses the story of Rebbe opening storehouses during famine and initially excluding amei haaretz (ignorant people), only to change his policy after Yonasan ben Amram's request. The Gemara compares different types of amei haaretz to animals - specifically a donkey (chamor) and a dog (kelev) - each representing distinct spiritual pathologies. Rabbi Zweig explains that every person is a combination of body (basar) and intellect (sechel), with the intellect meant to give form and direction to the physical drives. There are two ways this relationship can become corrupted. The 'dog' type am haaretz represents someone whose intellect exists separately from his physical drives - he may know right from wrong but lacks self-control. This person can potentially be helped because he remains capable of accepting direction from a Torah (תורה) scholar. The 'donkey' type, however, represents a far more dangerous corruption where the intellect has become completely subordinated to physical desires. This person doesn't just fail to control his drives; he actively uses his intellect to justify and rationalize whatever he wants to do. His mind has become the servant of his body, creating elaborate philosophical justifications for his desires. This creates tremendous stubbornness and makes change nearly impossible. The shiur connects this to the Mishnah (משנה)'s statement that 'an am haaretz cannot be a chassid' while noting that an am haaretz can be a tzaddik. Rabbi Zweig explains this apparent contradiction by distinguishing between these two types. The 'dog' type can potentially become righteous through connection to Torah scholars who can provide the external direction he lacks. The 'donkey' type, however, is beyond help because he has convinced himself that his way is correct. This analysis explains why Rebbe initially excluded all amei haaretz - because such people are the cause of suffering in the world when they resist the beneficial influence of Torah scholars. However, when Yonasan ben Amram demonstrated that he was the 'dog' type by saying 'feed me like a dog and raven,' Rebbe realized he needed to open the storehouse to everyone, since distinguishing between the two types from the outside is nearly impossible. The shiur concludes by noting that this dynamic exists today as well - there are people who acknowledge their struggles and remain open to guidance, versus those who have developed elaborate justifications for destructive behavior and consider themselves to be living optimally.