Acquiring Companionship The Unique Significance of the Chevrutah Relationship

Joshua ben Perahiah would say: make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a companion, and judge each person with the benefit of the doubt.

Acquire for yourself a friend - how? It teaches that one should acquire a friend to eat with, drink with, read with, study with, and sleep with, revealing to them all one's secrets, those of Torah and those of worldly affairs. And when you sit and learn Torah together, if one of you makes a mistake, e.g. in Halachah or properly ordering the material, calling the impure pure or the pure impure, the forbidden permitted or the permitted forbidden, then your friend can correct you. And from what [Scriptural source] do we know that a friend correcting another brings good reward to their endeavours? As it was said, "Two are better than one, as they have good reward in their endeavours."

(9) Two are better off than one, in that they have greater benefit from their earnings. (10) For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls with no companion to raise them up!

"Two are better off than one..." It is better for two to toil in Torah than individuals learning on their own. For if one falls, their companion can raise them up; if one forgets a halachah (rule), their friend can help them remember.

Hasket [means] "asu," (make) "kitot," (groups) and study Torah, for Torah is only acquired through study in a group. This is accords with Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, who said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “A sword is upon the boasters [habaddim], and they shall become fools [noalu]” (Jeremiah 50:36)? A sword upon the enemies of Torah scholars (i.e. the bad apples), who sit alone [bad bevad] and study Torah. Furthermore, those [who study alone] become foolish...

Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend?” (Proverbs 27:17) This verse comes to tell you that just as with these iron implements, one sharpens the other, so too, when Torah scholars study together, they sharpen one another in halakha. Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Why are matters of Torah compared to fire, as it is stated: “Is not My word like fire, says the Lord?” (Jeremiah 23:29) To tell you: Just as fire does not ignite in a lone stick of wood but rather in a pile of kindling, so too, matters of Torah are not retained and understood properly by a lone scholar who studies by himself, but by a group of Sages.

Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Why are Torah matters likened to a tree, as it is stated: “It is a tree of life to them who lay hold upon it?” (Proverbs 3:18) This verse comes to tell you that just as a small piece of wood can ignite a large piece, so too, minor Torah scholars can sharpen great Torah scholars and enable them to advance in their studies. And this is what Rabbi Ḥanina said: I have learned much from my teachers and even more from my friends, but from my students I have learned more than from all of them.

It is known, that when the time of a tzadik arrives, one who seeks to bestow unto their generation, it is of necessity that another arises to challenge them, for there are many ministers, and each one's authority is exclusive of the other. But if the generation's righteous do not want this kind of appointment [model], but rather to have chevruta, friends with whom to serve G-d together, each encouraging and reinforcing the other in their respective worship, then no one will have to oppose anyone anymore.

We see sign of this in the skies, if you look to the stars. Unlike the sun and moon, in which the latter depends on the former for light, no star bestows on another, rather each one has its own station and special quality unique to it. All the stars are united as friends and worship G-d together.

In this manner will you be like stars, who perdure through the cosmos; so will you be established in eternity, a time in which the example of the stars, who are all friends in harmony and concert, will be fulfilled. No one having to challenge another, as it was said, "In the future no person will teach their fellow." Pay attention and understand.