Transcript
Auto-generated transcript. Not time-synced to the video.
One of the most famous stories about
Hillel Hazaken that demonstrates his
incredible patience [music] and midot.
Two hustlers made a bet of 400 zuz,
which was [music] an enormous amount of
money, thousands and thousands of
dollars in today's world.
One said, "I bet I can make Hillel
angry."
Because it was known throughout the
world that you could never get Hillel
[music] angry. He was literally a
perfect human being in terms of his
patience.
So, this rascal decided to try on Friday
afternoon, right when Hillel was
preparing for Shabbat.
In those days, you had to heat the water
manually, get everything ready. It
wasn't like today where you turn on the
tap and hot water comes out.
While Hillel was getting ready for his
bath, this man evolved started screaming
outside [music] his house, "Mi can
Hillel? Mi can Hillel?"
Who here is Hillel?
Like he doesn't know who Hillel is.
Hillel was the nasi, the gadol hador.
Everyone knew who he was.
>> [music]
>> Hillel immediately got out of his bath,
put on his robe,
and ran outside. "Yes, my son, how can I
help you?" The guy asked him a foolish
question.
"Why do Asian people have slanted eyes?"
Hillel patiently gave him a complete
answer,
explaining how they live in a certain
part of the world where the sun shines
differently, and their eyes adapted.
"Any other questions, my son?"
"No."
So, Hillel went back inside. He had to
heat the water again.
Just as he was about to get back in,
[music]
"Mi can Hillel?"
Again,
the same guy pretending he never saw him
before.
Hillel got dressed again, came out with
a smile.
"Yes, my dear son, how can I help you?
Another stupid question.
Why do African people have stronger
legs? Hillel patiently answered him
again. This continued over and over. The
guy kept coming back with ridiculous
questions about Babylonians having oval
heads, people from different places
having [music] different features.
Each time Hillel would get out of his
bath, get dressed, come out with
patience and kindness,
and answer
as if it was the most important question
in the world.
Finally,
after many times the guy couldn't take
it anymore. [music]
He raised his hand and then said, "I
can't do it.
I can't believe it."
>> [music]
>> Hillel asked, "What happened, my son?"
The guy said,
"If you're really Hillel,
may there never be anyone like you again
in Israel."
Hillel asked, "Why do you say this, my
son? What did I do to offend you?"
The man told him the whole story about
the bet. "Because of you, Hillel,
I lost 400 zoos."
And Hillel said to him,
"It's better that you lose 400 zoos than
Hillel be angry for even a second."
This is the patience we need to learn
from Hillel Hazaken. It's all a test.
Everything is a test from Hashem to see
how we respond.
>> Hazaken
Let's say thank Hashem for more Torah.
One, two, three.
What's the vocal shift? One, two, three.
>> [music]
>> B H S
