R. Zera was asked by his students, "In what merit have you reached such an old age? He answered: "I have not rejoiced in the downfall of my fellow(Megillah 28a)".
The Vengrover Rav asked R. Yitzhak Vori, "Are we to understand that other Sages were guilty of this offence."
No, he answered. "What R. Zera meants is that he never found enjoyment at the occasions of gadness, such as weddings and the like, if he knew that any fellow man was then suffering affliction".
The Vengrover Rav exclaimed, "Seventeen times I have completed Shas and I never understood this passage. And the Vorker who gives less time to Talmud, immediately expressed its true meaning" (Derech Tazaddikim, pp.55-6).
Comments