Yahrtzeit Yomi #926!!
The P’nei Yehoshua
(1680 - 1756)
Today, 14 Shevat, marks the 268th yahrtzeit of the P’nei Yehoshua, Rav Yaakov Yehoshua Falk ZTL.
Every year, I anticipate and commemorate the Pnei Yehoshua’s yahrtzeit on 14 Shevat. Back in the day in Yeshiva, we would observe the Pnei Yehoshua’s yahrtzeit every year!! (No, not by skipping tachanun; but by learning his delicious Torah!!)
The Pnei Yehoshua is THE classic acharon; both for those just starting their involvement in analytical study of Gemara, and also for the greatest scholars of the last three centuries; I trust that I am in very good company as regards the sense of gratitude I feel to the P’nei Yehoshua for his illuminating and insightful comments that explain the depth of understanding in basic Gemara, Rashi and Tosafos. The Pnei Yehoshua was my first introduction to the sweetness and beauty of the depth of Torah, as I am sure he was to countless others.
Naturally, on the occasion of his 268th Yahrtzeit, I would like to showcase just one example from the thousands of his breathtakingly beautiful Torah insights.
THE FOLLOWING VORT IS GUARANTEED TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!!! YOU WILL LITERALLY NEVER BE THE SAME AFTER READING THIS VORT!!!
OK, actually, probably not. It’s much more likely that, after reading this, you will not be any noticeably different than before. For most of us, our lives are not changed by vorts we read or hear; but rather through decisions, commitments and meaningful, continuous dialogue.
(I do not mean to belittle, חס ושלום, the unquestionable and undeniable impact that Divrei Torah could have on the human soul, should one apply oneself. My intention is rather to mock the sensationalistic and overly-dramatic style so terribly prevalent in our “social media culture” of today. But I digress.......)
AAAANYWAYS!! Rabboisai, check out the following brilliant insight; it could be a life-changer, and is definitely something we should constantly bear in mind:
The Gemara in קידושין דף לב tells us that the words ״והדרת פני זקן״ - which is the biblical obligation to rise for an “elderly person” - actually refer to a Talmid Chacham. Rashi comments: ״ולשון נוטריקון דבר הכתוב״ -
says Rashi, Chazal are exegetically understanding the word ״זקן״ as a mnemonic for the words ״זה שקנה חכמה״, so the word ״זקן״ refers to a Talmid Chacham/Sage, rather than to an elderly person.
FREKT THE P’NEI YEHOSHUA!!....... the word זקן could be a mnemonic for the words ״זה שקנה״; but there is no ״ח״ in the word ״זקן״!! So how could we exegetically derive that the posuk is referring to a Talmid Chacham?! That is, the mnemonic of the word ״זקן״ can allude to “one who has acquired”; but where is it indicated that what the man has acquired was “wisdom“?! There is no ״ח״ to represent ״חכמה״ in the word ״זקן״??!?
ENFERT THE P’NEI YEHOSHUA...... mamish moiradik……its a befairusheh Avraham Fried song!! (which also happens to be an explicit Gemara in Nedarim 41a): -
״דָּא קָנֵי מָה חָסַר, דָּא לָא קָנֵי מָה קָנֵי״
“If he acquired this (Torah), what else is lacking? But if he has not acquired this (Torah), what has he acquired?”
Zukt the P’nei Yehoshua!! It doesn’t need to say what this man acquired. It suffices to say “one who has acquired”!! Do you know why?? BECAUSE THE ONLY LASTING ACQUISITION IS TORAH!! EVERYTHING ELSE IS TRANSITORY AND FLEETING!! So......the words “one who has acquired“ can ONLY refer to a Talmid Chacham; because only a Talmid Chacham has truly acquired anything!!! BECAUSE..........
דָּא קָנֵי מָה חָסַר, דָּא לָא קָנֵי מָה קָנֵי?!!!
RABBOISAI, WOW!!!
(You know what?? Maybe this actually will change your life, after all!! Even if it doesn’t, it should definitely make you wanna dance to the song......)
דָּא קָנֵי מָה חָסַר.....
?????????

תורתו מגן עלינו!!
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