We'll begin by watching this video together to learn a bit about Resh Lakish and Rabbi Yochanan, the OG chavruta:
Bava Metzia 84a:12-18
The two chavruta once had a disagreement, and Rabbi Yoḥanan was offended. This in turn affected Reish Lakish, who was so devastated about having offended his chavruta that he fell ill. Rabbi Yoḥanan’s sister, who was Reish Lakish’s wife, came crying to Rabbi Yoḥanan, begging that he pray for Reish Lakish’s recovery... Rabbi Yohanan refused, and Reish Lakish died. Rabbi Yoḥanan was sorely pained over losing him. The Rabbis said: Who will go to engage Rabbi Yoḥanan’s mind and comfort him over his loss?
They said: Let Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat go, as his reasoning is sharp, so he will be able to serve as a substitute chavruta instead of Reish Lakish. Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat went and sat before Rabbi Yoḥanan. With regard to every argument that Rabbi Yoḥanan would say, Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat would say to him: There is a ruling which is taught in another source that supports your argument. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Are you anything like Reish Lakish? In my discussions with Reish Lakish, when I would make an argument, he would raise twenty-four rebuttals against me in an attempt to disprove my claim, and I would answer him with twenty-four answers, and the issue would therefore become even more compelling and clarified. And yet you only say to me: There is a ruling which is taught that supports your opinion. Do I not know that what I say is good? Being rebutted by Reish Lakish served a purpose; your bringing proof to my statements does not. Rabbi Yoḥanan went around, rending his clothing, weeping and saying: Where are you, son of Lakish? Where are you, son of Lakish? Rabbi Yoḥanan wept until the lack of a chavruta led his mind to become unstable.
The two chavruta once had a disagreement, and Rabbi Yoḥanan was offended. This in turn affected Reish Lakish, who was so devastated about having offended his chavruta that he fell ill. Rabbi Yoḥanan’s sister, who was Reish Lakish’s wife, came crying to Rabbi Yoḥanan, begging that he pray for Reish Lakish’s recovery... Rabbi Yohanan refused, and Reish Lakish died. Rabbi Yoḥanan was sorely pained over losing him. The Rabbis said: Who will go to engage Rabbi Yoḥanan’s mind and comfort him over his loss?
They said: Let Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat go, as his reasoning is sharp, so he will be able to serve as a substitute chavruta instead of Reish Lakish. Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat went and sat before Rabbi Yoḥanan. With regard to every argument that Rabbi Yoḥanan would say, Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat would say to him: There is a ruling which is taught in another source that supports your argument. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Are you anything like Reish Lakish? In my discussions with Reish Lakish, when I would make an argument, he would raise twenty-four rebuttals against me in an attempt to disprove my claim, and I would answer him with twenty-four answers, and the issue would therefore become even more compelling and clarified. And yet you only say to me: There is a ruling which is taught that supports your opinion. Do I not know that what I say is good? Being rebutted by Reish Lakish served a purpose; your bringing proof to my statements does not. Rabbi Yoḥanan went around, rending his clothing, weeping and saying: Where are you, son of Lakish? Where are you, son of Lakish? Rabbi Yoḥanan wept until the lack of a chavruta led his mind to become unstable.
Please consider the following questions with your chavruta, though don't feel like you need to rush to get through all of them:
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Why does Rabbi Yochanan feel the way he does?
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What does a good chavruta look like? What does it not look like?
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What does Rabbi Yochanan really want? What do you think he means by asking, "where are you, son of Lakish"?