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Lessons from Choni HaMa'agel
By Vardah Littmann
High
in the Gallilian hilltops, where the breeze sings through the tall
grass and sways the trees, there is found the grave-site of the famed
sage from the Talmud, Choni HaMa'agel, located above the village of
Hatzor HaGlilit.
The
Talmud speaks about Choni HaMa'agel who was the most pious person of
his generation. But how do we know if a person is really pious? The
Talmud gives the criterion that allows others to tell if the person
is really a pious person This condition is, the ability to influence
the bringing down of rain. The key of rainfall is in the Hand of G-d
. It order for one's prayer for rain to be effective one must find
favor in the eyes of G-d by making his 'will' the 'Will of G-d , so
that G-d will make His 'Will' the 'will' of the one praying and
answer his prayer for rain. The rabbis of the generation knew that
Choni was always able to cause the rain to fall with his
supplications. During a year of drought they sent him a message to
request rain. Choni took his staff and drew a circle around himself,
in the sand. He then swore hat he would not leave the circle until
rain fell. (The sages say he is called HaMa'agel because he drew this
circle - ha-magel means the circle maker). In heaven there was
a hash decree of drought against the Jewish nation and G-d did not
want to give them rain. Yet, because of the honor of the pious one,
so that Chonie should not be bound by his oath and should be able
leave the circle, G-d made a few tiny drops fall. Choni said "I
did not ask for such rains."
So
G-d decided that He would exchange the decree of drought to one of a
flood. A flood can cause great devastation. In those times the
houses were not well built and a too heavy rainfall could cause them
to cave in and collapse. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest
would request that the rains should not be not be too heavy in the
coming year and thereby cause the houses of the people to be their
graves.
As
Choni finished speaking, great big heavy drops started falling,
Choni then said "I did not ask for this type of rain, Your
people, Israel, cannot deal with bad decrees and they cannot deal
with too much good. We need rain in the correct measure." G-d
accorded and gentle beneficial rain began descending- rain of
blessing and all the empty wells filled up and the soil was
saturated.
The
Talmud says that the sages censured Choni. Rav Gamliel sent him a
message. "If you were not Choni, I would put you into
excommunication, but what can I do if you act before G-d as a son
before a father."
We
see from the above story that Choni was the pious one of the
generation. He was also one of the greatest torah scholars of his generation but he had difficulty with one verse. The first verse in
of Psalm 126 states -"A song of ascents, when the captivity
of Zion returns we will be like dreamers".
The
meaning of this is that at the time of the return to Zion, it will
seem the exile was a long dream. The Babylonian exile lasted seventy
years. Choni felt it was farfetched to be able sleep for so long.
Choni
knew that an allegory was intended as the verse says "like
dreamers". But Choni also knew the premises that when an
allegory is given, the simple meaning of the allegory must also be
applicable. If a man cannot in actually sleep seventy years, then the
verse would not use this allegory saying 'as if we dreamt seventy
years'. Thus Choni had difficult with the plain understanding of the
verse. It was therefor decided in Heaven to show him that such a
phenomena is indeed possible.
The
Talmud continues the narrative. One day Choni was riding along on his
donkey. A great exhaustion overtook him. He got off his donkey to
rest. In the nearby field he saw an old man planting a carob tree.
Choni asked the man when this newly planted tree would bear fruit. He
was told that this type of carob bears fruit only seventy year after
it is first planted. Choni wondered "Do you intend to eat from
this tree?”
"Just
as my ancestors saw to it that when I came into the world I found
fruit trees that I could eat from, so to I am making sure my
descendents will have fruit trees available when they come into the
world." Answered the old man. Each generation makes sure the
following generations' needs are met.
Fatigue
overwhelmed Choni and he lay down next to the sapling and fell into a
deep sleep. From heaven it was made sure no one would notice him. No
one would disturb him. Seventy years later he woke up. How did Choni
know seventy years had passed? He saw that the tree that had been
planted on the day he fell asleep, was now bearing fruit. He
understood that Heaven was showing him that it is possible to sleep
for seventy years.
Choni
then came into to the House of Learning but he did not recognize
anyone there. He inquired about Choni's sons, his own sons. He was
told they had passed away. Who was around? Gandsons? Great
grandsons?
People
were learning Torah and Choni joined in. His explained the chapter
being learned and enlightened their minds. He put down the correct
premisses. He easily paved a way though the most difficult passages.
The learners said to each other, "Such explanations only Choni
used to give"
“Yes,
it's me- Choni."
They
ridiculed him.
Chonie
went outside and pleaded, "Either friendship or death." In
essence he was saying "If I am not appreciated for who I am, I
rather die." G-d took his soul.
This
is an awesome lesson.
Choni
certainly knew the teaching;”One hour of repentance and good
deeds in this world is worth the entire next world". So why
should it bother him he is being mocked. He should learn. For each
hour he will acquire more of the next world. He can learn and pray.
He can teach Torah to others. All agree his comprehension of Torah is
very profound. He can keep the Shabbat. Why should he care if others
are belittling him?
We
see from here that even for the greatest most pious person in the
entire Jewish nation, it is worth while to give up on one's next
world, so that people should not laugh at him.
So
let's conclude from here how careful we should be with the way we
treat others. To try be extra careful with their honor and esteem. We
should be careful with what we say to others, and how we phrase, what
we say it to them. We should treat everyone, both adults and
children, with the maximum of deference and respect.
Based on a lecture by Rabbi Sholom Meir HaCohen Wallach
Photos
by Rimonah Traub www.israelcamerafocus.blog.spot.com
~~~~~~~
from the December 2010 Edition of the Jewish Magazine
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