The sermon of Rav Akiva Eiger in Nikolsburg was an inspiration for the whole City
Rabbi Akiva Eger was one of the greatest scholars of his time, and he greatly influenced Jewish life. He was born in Eisenstadt, Hungary, in the year 5521 (1761) He was the Rabbi of the famous city of Posen, and became the chief rabbi of the entire Posen province. He later on became the father in law of the heilige Chasam Sofer, who had great respect for him. He was ordained by Rabbi Mordechai Banet (1753–1829) Rabbi of Nikolsburg and chief rabbi of Moravia. Rav Akiva Eiger shied away from fanfare and despised being a showcase.
Once Rav Akiva Eiger had to be in Nikolsburg for a few days and he didn’t want to stay by his Rebbe so as not to distract or bother him. He also didn’t want his Rebbe to know that he was in town and chose to ask a certain Yid who gladly welcomed Rav Akiva to be his guest. The Yid asked what he did for a living and Rav Akiva Eiger answered that he was a teacher. Rav Akiva then asked the Yid, who was the Shochet for his meat? He answered it was Glatt kosher, and he that he was the Shochet. Rav Akiva asked him to show him the Knife he used. He went to his room and brought a knife and after Rav Akiva checked the knife, he was furious as he found it to be unfit to use. Rav Akiva Eiger was now determined to visit his Rebbe and tell him to alert the people in Nikolsburg not to eat the chickens slaughtered by the Shochet!
Rav Akiva Eiger knocked on the door of his Rebbe who welcomed him warmly and told him to be his guest. When he told him about his ordeal with the Shochet, Rav Mordechai calmed him that the Shochet was a G-d fearing Jew. I had checked his knife and it was kosher. Rav Akiva Eiger trusted his Rebbe and was calm. The two Rabbanim discussed the Torah and Rav Mordechai said that he wants Rav Akiva Eiger to deliver the Torah sermon on Shabbos. Word went out that the great Gaon of Posen was in town and he would give a sermon on a difficult subject in the Talmud.
Shabbos afternoon the Shul was packed with many Torah scholars who heard of the Gaon of Posen. The door opened and the two Rabbanim walked into Shul hand in hand. Rav Mordechai gave an brief introduction on the Bima and Rav Akiva Eiger began his sermon. He intertwined different aspects and the scholars relished his brilliance and sat in awe. Then Rav Akiva Eiger gave a brilliant insight to answer a difficult Gemara when Rav Mordechai Banet couldn’t contain himself and asked forgiveness from Rav Akiva Eiger, as he had a question on his insight. Rav Akiva Eiger was grateful to let his Rebbe ask. All eyes were on Rav Mordechai who was humble to his student and began his refute. The scholars agreed that the Rav asked to the point. Rav Akiva Eiger listened and thought for a while, acknowledging that the question was very powerful!
The sermon went on for a long time and the congregants were astonished at the vast knowledge of Rav Akiva Eiger. After the sermon, the people lined up to thank Rav Akiva Eiger for the beautiful sermon. When the two Rabbanim came home, Rav Akiva Eiger began answering the question of Rav Mordechai. The discussion was great and deep and after a while, Rav Mordechai gave Rav Akiva Eiger a thank you for his answer.
Rav Mordechai was overwhelmed at the greatness of his student and asked him, if he had an answer, why didn’t he answer it at the sermon? Rav Akiva Eiger was a genius in humbleness and answered: If I would have answered the question at the sermon it would have been a great honor for me that I outsmarted the Rav. Yet when I said it was a beautiful question it raised the honor of the Rav that he was able to refute the Rav of Posen. I have enough honor in Posen. Here in Nikolsburg, the honor belongs to you!
After Shabbos was over Rav Mordechai asked the Gabbay to summon the so-called Shochet who showed the knife to Rav Akiva Eiger. The Yid showed up to the Rav who was surprised to see a very honorable Torah scholar but was not the Shochet. Rav Akiva Eiger was bewildered and glad he didn’t make a fuss in town and tell Lashon Hara! Then he asked the Yid if he wasn’t a Shochet, why did he say that he was a Shochet? The Yid answered: When you came to my house I recognized you as the Rav of Posen. Yet when I asked you who you were, you answered that you were a Melamed. Well if you’re a Melamed then I am a Shochet! The mystery was solved! Rav Akiva Eiger asked the Shochet to forgive him for suspecting him of delivering unkosher meat to the city, and he forgave him.
They immediately went into a discussion in learning, and the three scholars dove deeper and deeper into the Talmud and it was a great enjoyment for them. This great act of being humble was a lesson to all the people of Nikolsburg.
