Our Gemara picks up from our last lesson regarding the story of a pious man who had chosen to spend the eve of Rosh HaShanah sleeping in a cemetery – after an argument with his wife.
In our last Shiur, we saw that the man had overheard two sprits (young girls) who were on an adventure to find out what the new year’s decrees would be. He overhead that those who sow in the first rainy season would lose their crops, but those who sowed in the second season would not be affected. He did so, and his crops were successful.
The story continues, and tells us about the next year when the man decided to do the same thing on the eve of Rosh HaShanah (the New Year). But this time the decree was an opposite one. The man followed the message he had overheard and again met with success. His wife was amazed about his “good luck” and enquired about it. He explained the story to her.
The Gemara tells us another story about the Sage Zeiri who left some money with an innkeeper while he went to study in the Beit Midrash. She died and he did not know what had happened to his money. He went to the cemetery to ask the lady where his money was. She told him – adding that when he collects it, he should also ask her mother to send some cosmetics with her to a certain person who would die then, and she would bring the cosmetics to her when she came.
The Talmud shares yet another story about the father of Shmuel. He had money entrusted to him for the sake of orphans. However, he died, and Shmuel did not know where the money had been left. After being insulted by the masses for having (apparently) stolen that money – he went to the cemetery to ask his father regarding the whereabouts of the money. Another fascinating story ensues.
Yet another story concerning the interaction between the living and the dead is illustrated in a story concerning Moses and God. Quoting from the book of Deuteronomy, the Gemara teaches that we are to understand a particular verse as relating to God’s wish that Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses) relate over to the forefathers when he dies, that God has fulfilled His promise of giving the Land (of Israel) to their descendants.
