Q&A: Was Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi Mistaken?
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Was Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi Mistaken?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi would wrap himself among them and engage in Torah study, saying: “A loving hind and a graceful doe” (Proverbs 5:19) — if it bestows grace upon those who learn it, does it not also protect? (Ketubot 77b)… Was Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi mistaken? What is the correct way to relate to his statement?
Best regards,
The one who disagrees with Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, Goralin
Answer
It is possible that he was mistaken, if he really meant the statement literally. Or perhaps he was on a different spiritual level? Or maybe in his time things were different? I do not know.