Q&A: Did Rav Sheshet Blind Himself?
Did Rav Sheshet Blind Himself?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Rabbeinu Gershom writes at the end of tractate Menachot that Rav Sheshet blinded himself. At that time this was surely a possible danger to life. How could Rav Sheshet transgress a Torah prohibition?
Answer
I don’t understand why at that time this would have been a danger to life. I don’t know why he did this, if he did at all. Presumably he had some consideration that justified it.
I just looked and saw that he says they wanted to conduct themselves like Rav, who would not raise his eyes from the ground, and therefore they “became” blind, but it does not say that he blinded himself.
Discussion on Answer
I didn’t see that there. On the contrary, I saw in his words at the end of the tractate there that they became blind.
But even without modern medicine, I don’t see why this would necessarily be a danger to life.
Here is the quote:
Rav said to Rav Shimi: “Shimi, is that you? You are indeed Shimi.” Since he did not see him, because Rav practiced acts of piety in that he would not raise his eyes from the ground, and would look only in front of himself out of great humility, and this was one of his character traits. Rav Yosef and Rav Sheshet, his students, wanted to conduct themselves in this manner, and they became blind.
I understand. That’s how they brought it in Wikipedia under the entry for Rabbeinu Gershom. My apologies. Thank you, Rabbi.
Rabbeinu Gershom writes that he blinded himself. Surely this is a danger to life, Rabbi. There was no modern medicine. I’m speaking according to Rabbeinu Gershom’s explanation.