Fascinating Book: Rebbe’s Sichah Answers 59 Questions in Shas

On Yud Tes Kislev 5732 (1971), the Rebbe presented a unique interpretation into the story in Tractate Horayot where Rabi Meir was penalized with the title “Acherim” (others) after attempting to remove Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel (Rashbag) from the position of Nasi. The Rebbe poses a critical question: Why then is Rabi Meir referred to as “Acherim” in only a few instances in the Talmud, rather than consistently?

Rejecting the standard explanation that attributes this to chronological differences before and after the incident, the Rebbe offers an innovative perspective that completely revolutionized our understanding of Rabi Meir’s rulings throughout the Talmud:

Drawing on the Gemara, the Rebbe explains that Rabi Meir was an ‘oker harim’ (uprooter of mountains)—a sharp and profound thinker who emphasized the quality of Torah study, delving deeply into the reasoning behind each law. Rashbag, by contrast, was a ‘Sinai’ type scholar, prioritizing breadth of knowledge and mastery of a vast quantity of laws over their deeper reasoning.

Rabi Meir believed that a leader of Israel should prioritize quality over quantity, considering it the more critical approach. It was due to this divergence of perspective that Rabi Meir wanted to remove Rashbag) from the position of Nasi.

The Rebbe’s therefore suggests that the penalty of being called “Acherim” was directly tied to this philosophy; In all 59 instances in the Talmud where Rabi Meir is referred to as “Acherim,” his rulings are built on the rationale and principle that quality outweighs quantity.

Fifty-three years have passed since the Rebbe shared this groundbreaking insight. Yet, for some reason, even after its publication in Likkutei Sichot, it remained largely unknown to the broader public, leaving many yeshiva students and teachers unaware of its existence or depth.

Moreover, the original sichah discusses only a few rulings to illustrate the principle that Rabi Meir’s title “Acherim” reflects his emphasis on quality over quantity. What about the more than 50 other instances!? Despite its significance, the insight was not widely studied or expanded upon in kovtzim (scholarly journals).

In the book ‘Acherim Omrim’, Rabbi Meir Alituv provides a clear and accessible guide through each Talmudic discussion where Rabi Meir is referred to as “Acherim.” He demonstrates how the quality-over-quantity principle underpins these teachings and often sheds new light on surrounding sugyot.

The book is available for purchase in printed and digital editions.

The digital edition includes online access to the digital book from any computer or smart device through the personal account on the website. After the purchase, you must log in to the account to view the book.