The Weight of Ink: Wise Women Reflect

Rabbi Yoḥanan elaborates: Ahijah the Shilonite cursed the Jewish people by comparing them to a reed: “For the Lord will smite Israel as a reed is shaken in the water.” Although it seems to be a curse, this verse is actually a blessing. Just as this reed stands in a place of water, and its shoots replenish themselves when cut, and its roots are numerous for a plant of its size, and even if all the winds in the world come and blow against it, they cannot move it from its place, rather, it sways with them until the winds subside, and the reed still stands in its place, the same applies to the Jewish people. After all the difficulties that they endure, they will ultimately survive and return home.

However, Balaam the wicked blessed the Jews by comparing them to a cedar, as it is stated: “As cedars beside the waters” (Numbers 24:6). Just as this cedar does not stand in a place of water, and its shoots do not replenish themselves, and its roots are not numerous, Balaam wished that the same should apply to the Jewish people. Furthermore, while it is true that even if all the winds in the world blow against it they will not move it from its place, once the southern wind blows against it, it uproots the cedar and turns it on its face. And not only that, but the reed merited that a quill [kulmos] is taken from it to write with it a Torah scroll, the Prophets, and the Writings. Evidently, the curse comparing Israel to a reed is better than the blessing likening them to a cedar.

(13) A woman who studied the Torah receives reward but it is not comparable to the reward of a man because she was not commanded to do so, and whoever does something which is not mandatory upon him to perform is not rewarded like the reward for one who does something they are commanded to do, rather [they receive] a lesser [reward].

And, although she is rewarded, the sages commanded that a man shall not instruct his daughter in the Torah, because most women have no set mind to be instructed therein, but, on the contrary, are apt to divert matters of the Torah to nonsensical matters, of course, in proportion to the inferiority of their mind. The sages said: "Whosoever instructs his daughter in Torah, it is as if he instructed her in matters of profanity." (Sotah, 21b). With regard to what was this stated? Regarding the Oral Torah; but for the Written Torah, one should not teach it to her initially, but if one did teach it then it is not as if one has taught tiflut.

All love which is contingent upon a passing thing — once the thing passes, the love passes; and (all love) which is not contingent upon a passing thing [like the love of tzaddikim and sages] never passes. What is love that is contingent upon a passing thing? The level of Amnon and Tamar, [Amnon loving Tamar because of her beauty]. And (what is love) that is not contingent upon a passing thing? The love of David and Jonathan [to fulfill the will of their Master. Jonathan said to David (I Samuel 23:17): "You be the king over Israel and I will be your viceroy."]

This is to say, that in all the ways one wants goodness and kindess that he feels he deserves to receive from his love, he shall to do his fellow, who is every person. This is: Reuven wants from Shimon his love that he treat him as someone as a loyal companion in all ways, and that he feels in his heart that these are the things and manners that are fitting for Shimon to treat him: 1. That he love me truly without falsehood. 2. That he treat me with respect always, as the rabbis say: Honor of your friend should be like the reverence for your teacher. 3. That he ask my wellbeing always, because that's fitting for loving neighbors to be at peace and to ask of each other's wellbeing. 4. That he partake in my pain. 5. That he receive me with a smile when I come to his house. 6. That he judge me favorable. 7. That he voluntarily inconvenience him self for me (??)...8. That he loan me or gift me some money when I need it and that he not withhold from me any small request to borrow something. 9. That he not not be arrogant towards me...

With regard to the same verse, Rava said: After departing from this world, when a person is brought to judgment for the life he lived in this world, they say to him in the order of that verse: Did you conduct business faithfully? Did you designate times for Torah study? Did you engage in procreation? Did you await salvation? Did you engage in the dialectics of wisdom or understand one matter from another?

(6) A man should always study Torah and then marry a woman. For if he marries a woman first, his mind will not be available for study. But if his desire overcomes him, such that his heart is not available, he should marry a woman and then learn Torah.