2021/5782

Gittin 56a

It is a most surprising positive turn in the otherwise dismal story of the Churban (Gittin 56a, from the William Davidson edition of the Talmud).

The Roman authorities then sent Neron Keiser against the Jews. When he came to Jerusalem, he wished to test his fate. He shot an arrow to the east and the arrow came and fell in Jerusalem. He then shot another arrow to the west and it also fell in Jerusalem. He shot an arrow in all four directions of the heavens, and each time the arrow fell in Jerusalem.

Nero then conducted another test: He said to a child: Tell me a Pasuk that you learned today. He said to him as follows: “And I will lay My vengeance upon Edom by the hand of My people Israel” (Yechezkel 25:14). Nero said: HaKadosh Baruch Hu wishes to destroy His Temple, and He wishes to wipe his hands with that man, i.e., with me. The Romans are associated with Edom, the descendants of Eisav. If I continue on this mission, I will eventually be punished for having served as God’s agent to bring about the destruction. So he fled and became a convert, and ultimately Rabbi Meir descended from him.

Rebuttal of the Nuremberg Defense

Neron Keiser serves as a powerful rebuttal to the defense presented by Nazi criminals after World War Two at the Nuremberg trials. These criminals claimed that they were cogs in a machine and only followed orders. They argued that they had no choice. Neron Keiser proves them wrong. They had a choice. They just had to have the courage to flee and start over as did Neron Keiser. Moreover, Neron Keiser successfully integrated into his adopted community, with none other than the great Rabbi Meir included in his descendants.

Rambam vs. Ramban

Binyamin Jachter notes that our story fits much better with Rambam’s (Hilchot Teshuvah 6:5) explanation for Hashem punishing the Egyptians for carrying out the Brit Bein HaBetarim (Bereishit 15:14), which describes that we will be slaves and suffer in a land not our own. Many wonder why the Egyptians are punished for fulfilling Hashem’s plan. Rambam explains that Hashem did not specify which nation would carry out this decree. The Egyptians made the poor choice to act incorrectly and were held accountable. Neron Keiser proves that they could have made better choices. 

Rambam’s idea fits well with Chazal’s teaching (Shabbat 32a) that “SheMegalgelim Zechut Al Yedei Zakai VeChovah Al Yedei Chayav,” “Hashem chooses good people to bring about good things, and bad people to bring bad things.” Neron Keiser refused to be a bad person selected to bring about bad things, and he was rewarded by having the great Rabbi Meir emerge from him.

Ramban (to Bereishit 15:14) adopts a different approach. Ramban argues that Hashem punished the Egyptians for excessively harsh treatment. Ramban argues that Hashem would not have punished the Egyptians if they did not treat us harshly and acted simply to carry Hashem’s decree.

Binyamin Jachter asks on Ramban- why did Neron Keiser just fight the Jews but refrain from excess and act to carry out Hashem’s decree? Ramban does not seem to fit with our Gemara. Ramban might respond that Neron Keiser acted above and beyond what is expected (and perhaps is therefore rewarded with having the exceptional Rabbi Meir emerge as one of his descendants).

Detecting Hashem’s Hand 

All arrows heading to Yerushalayim lead Neron to conclude Hashem is manipulating the situation. Thus, he concludes that he is being used as a tool in Hashem’s hand, as Yishayahu (10:5) describes Assyria: “Hoy Ashur Sheivet Api,” “Ha! Assyria, rod of My anger.”

Conversely, we today, Baruch Hashem, are witnessing Hashem manipulating arrows in our favor. The thousands upon thousands of missiles fired by evil Hamas terrorists have done relatively little damage to Israel. With all consideration for those who have suffered from Hamas’ evil actions, the destruction is a tiny fraction of what could have happened without His intervention ensuring that almost all Hamas projectiles do not hit their targets.

While we are comforted noticing Hashem’s hand saving us, we must face the facts with courage when Hashem is punishing us as well. Without His intervention, our enemies would not be successful. For example, the Lubavitcher Rebbe not only pointed out Hashem’s hand in the Entebbe raid. He also stressed that the hijackers would not have been able to capture the plane without His support. Both the capture and rescue were accomplished against all odds. The circumstances at both ends point to heavenly involvement. 

Neron Vs. Titus

According to the Gemara (Gittin 56b), Titus advises (from his position in hell) his nephew Onkelos to avoid joining the Jewish people. Titus tells Onkelos that Judaism has too many laws and it is impossible to observe them. Neron’s successful interrogation of our people is a potent rebuttal. The Torah is doable, shows Neron, as Moshe Rabbeinu teaches “Ki Karov Eilecha Me’od La’asoto,” “Torah is well within our grasp and capabilities”  (Devarim 30:14).

Rabbi Meir and Onkelos

Finally, it is stunning to consider that had the Churban not occurred, we would not have merited having Rabbi Meir and Onkelos. Hashem brings about great things even from the worst of circumstances. We witness a similar phenomenon with Rashi’s teaching (Bereishit 8:2 d”h VaYisacheru) that the Tiberias hot springs emerged from the Mabul. We can follow this example and make every effort to create great things from the most terrible of situations. The Tosafot from the Crusades and the Zohar from Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s years in the cave exemplify these heroic actions.

Conclusion - Talent for Good vs. Talent for Evil

It is no coincidence that Onkelos is Titus’ nephew and that Shmaya and Avtalyon descend from Sancheirev (Gittin 57b). Sancheirev and Titus were men blessed with great talent but wasted their great abilities for evil causes. Onkelos, Shmaya, and Avtalyon harnessed their great abilities for the greatest human endeavor- bringing and enlarging the light of Hashem and Torah to a world in dire need of repair.  Neron Keiser is a great hero for shifting from Titus’s evil path to the heroic path of Onkelos and Rabbi Meir.  

Every human being is capable of great spiritual achievement, and there are no excuses for failing to do so.  Neron Keiser is the best proof that we all have the choice and ability to live a noble life.