Rabbi Kook

Those from the House of the Exilarch are held responsible for the whole world, as Rabbi Chanina learned: That which it says, “Hashem will come in judgment with the elders of His nation and its officers” (Yeshaya 3:14) is explained as follows. If the officers sinned, how did the elders sin? Rather, the blame of the elders is that they did not protest the actions of the officers.

Whoever is capable of protesting [against the sins of] the members of his household and did not protest is held responsible for their actions. The same is true in regard to the sins of the people of his city and those of the entire world [if he failed to protest according to his ability].

We continue with the story involving R. Elazar ben Azarya and a cow that carried something on Shabbat.] There is a Tannaic source: It was not his cow, but it belonged to a female neighbor. Because he did not protest her action, the cow was called his.

[In the previous story, involving R. Elazar ben Azarya’s cow, the implication is that he owned only one cow.] Didn’t Rav say that R. Elazar ben Azarya’s tithed from his flocks 12,000 calves every year?

The cow of Rabbi Eliezer would go out (on Shabbat) with a rope between her horns, against the will of the Sages.

The female sheep go out on Shabbat “kevulot.” What is the meaning of “kevulot”? Their tails were tied below them so that the male sheep would not be able to mate with them. What is the source that the word kevulot implies not being able to bear fruit? It states in Melachim I (9:13): “The kavul land until this day”. What does the word kavul imply? Rav Huna explains that the people were “kavul” with silver and gold. Rava said to him: Because they were kavul in silver and gold – He was not happy? He (Rav Huna) answered: Yes. Since they were so wealthy and spoiled, they were unproductive and did no work for the King.

The Rabbis taught: it once happened that a man married a woman who was missing one hand and did not notice this until the day of her death. Rav said: How tznu’ah (modest) this woman was, in that her husband did not notice this. Rav Chiya said: This was natural for her. Rather, how tzanua was this man, who did not notice this about his wife.

It once happened that a man’s wife died and left a baby who needed to be nursed. He did not have the funds to hire a nursemaid. A miracle happened, and he grew breasts and nursed his son. Rav Yehuda said: come and see how difficult it is to earn a living. For this person had a miracle done for him (by growing breasts), instead of receiving money in a miraculous way.

The Rabbis taught: It once happened that that a man’s wife passed away and left him with a small baby who needed to be nursed. The man did not have any money to pay a wet nurse. A miracle occurred, and he grew breasts similar to a woman’s and nursed his son”. Rav Yosef said: See how great this man is that such a miracle occurred to him. Abaye said: The opposite is true. See how lacking this man is that the order of creation had to be changed for him”.

It once happened that a man’s wife died and left a baby who needed to be nursed. He didn’t have the funds to hire a nursemaid. A miracle happened and he grew breasts and nursed his son.