Eruvin 12

I need one of my Talmud teachers to weigh in on my gem for today. I read this, but cannot find other literature about what it says, which is pretty surprising:

Come and hear: There was an incident involving Rabbi Eliezer, who went to Rabbi Yosei ben Perida, his disciple, at the town of Ovelin, and found him dwelling in an alleyway that had only one side post. He said to him: My son, set up another side post. Rabbi Yosei said to him: Am I required to close it up? Rabbi Eliezer said to him: Let it be closed up; what does it matter?

Now, this whole section is about what consitutes and alleyway and how it’s similar and different to a courtyard. But that discussion ignores the elephant on the daf – Rabbi Eliezer’s student, Rabbi Yosei ben Perida, is living in an alleyway.

He appears to be homeless.

Reading this was rather jaring – hearing a teacher tell his student, who is living on the street, that he needs to set up a board so as to create a space wherein it is legal to carry items on Shabbat – while completely ignoring the fact that the man is LIVING IN AN ALLEYWAY!! I think he has bigger issues.

On the other hand, what a great lesson. That no matter where we find ourselves, in a place of great wealth (this page also talks about what to do if you won two houses across from one another) or a place of great poverty – that you can still be a rabbi and a source of wisdom and Torah.

If only we saw all those who are homeless with those eyes.