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Why does Avos 2:8 praise Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Chananya indirectly by saying 'praiseworthy is she who gave birth to him' rather than describing his own qualities? The shiur develops that his greatness was his perfect da'as - the ability to connect with and understand others. The praise to his mother reflects how nursing teaches a child's first lesson in connecting beyond oneself, establishing the foundation for all meaningful relationships.
This shiur delves into a fascinating Mishna in Pirkei Avos where Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai describes his five students' unique qualities. While four students receive descriptions of their personal attributes, Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Chananya is described only as 'ashrei yoladeto' - praiseworthy is she who gave birth to him. Rabbi Zweig investigates what this seemingly indirect praise reveals about Rabbi Yehoshua himself. The analysis begins by examining stories about Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Chananya in the Talmud (תלמוד), particularly his encounter with a Sadducee in Caesar's palace where they communicated through hand signals. The rabbi understood both his own signal and the Sadducee's, while the Sadducee only understood his own - demonstrating Rabbi Yehoshua's superior ability to understand others.
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Pirkei Avos 2:8-9
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Why is Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya praised as 'ashrei yoladeto' - focusing on his mother rather than his own qualities? The shiur develops that daas means the ability to connect with and understand others, not mere intellectual knowledge. A mother's nursing relationship teaches an infant that something outside himself cares deeply, creating the foundation for all future relationships and genuine understanding.
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