Thursday, August 27, 2020

Note to Eruvin 18 - Reincarnation of Manoach

"A man should not walk after a woman, and not even after his wife."

Regarding this, the Sages said that Manoach was an ignoramus since he "Followed his wife" when an angel invited them. However, Manoach could claim that he followed "The advice of his wife." 

To settle this, Manoach came back in reincarnation as Abba Chilkiya. People used to come to Abba Chilkiya to ask him to pray for rain. He and his wife would go to the roof of their house and pray, but the clouds would first appear on her side - just as the angel first came to the wife of Manoach. So Abba Chilkiya was proving that as Manoach, he followed "The advice of his wife." She also had an additional trait: when some ruffians appeared in their neighborhood and caused big trouble, Abba Chilkiya prayed that they die, whereas she prayed that they would reform - which they did.

Incidentally, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein would always let a woman in the door first.

Source:  "Gilgulei Neshamot" by Rabbi Menachem Meir of Fano.

Art: John Phillip (1817–1867) A Woman Praying