A True Scholar

The Talmud in Pesachim quotes Rav Yosef exulting the holiday of Shavuos when the Jews received the Torah: “Said Rav Yosef, “If not for this day, how many Yosefs would wander the market?” If the Talmud notes the name of a sage, the name obviously has some relevance, and can add meaning to the teaching. So in the case of the teaching, why is Rav Yosef mentioned?

In nature’s view of the world, we seem to be mere beneficiaries, not contributors. Who can add to the world? Seemingly, only God Himself. However, Torah teaches that God ingrained within us the power to be able to contribute through our own labor, and this idea is called “Yosef–to add;” with the power of Torah, we can contribute to the world, even transforming the physical to sublime.