We find an interesting episode in this week's Parsha. Hashem told Moshe to prepare the Jew to receive the Torah in three days time. Moshe added an extra day.
We know that our Rabbis have the authority to add certain laws to the Torah. This is correct after receiving the Torah. Moshe added an extra day before receiving the Torah! How?
There is an interesting Gemarah (Maseches Eruvin 13:) that says that it is known and clear before He who created the world that there was no one in the generation of Rabbi Meir as great as him.
However, we find that when there is an argument between Rabbi Meir and his fellow Tanaim, the ruling is not like Rabbi Meir, but it is like the other Tanaim. On the other hand, when Rabbi Meir made a decree it was accepted even against the majority. Why?
Rabbi Yankel Galinsky zt"l explains this with a parable.
A person had an amazing eyesight, similar to that of a microscope. His friends were about to drink some water. He told them that he can see tiny microscopic insects in the water. Therefore the water is forbidden to drink with many violations for every insect.
The Halachic ruling is not in his favor. The Torah was given to the normal eye and not a microscope. Only an insect invisible to the normal eye is forbidden.
However, if he were to say that he can see some tiny poisonous bacteria in the water, no one will touch the water. No one will say who cares, we can't see the poisonous bacteria.
Rabbi Meir had an amazing understanding in his studies and his friends could not reach that level of understanding. But since his friends were the majority and they understood differently, the ruling is like their opinion. However when it came to his decrees and his foresight of danger, that everyone understood they must follow his ruling, even if they don't understand.
Moshe was not adding a Halachic law, but rather with his foresight he understood that another day was required before receiving the Torah.
In 1905 the Rishon Lezion, Rabbi Yaakov Meir Elyashar received a telegram from Rabbi Rabinowitz the Rav of Novominsk.
Two Jews had given testimony that they witnessed 5 non-Jews committing a murder. Due to their testimony, the murderers were sentenced to death. The non-Jews were sure it was a Jewish libel and a false story, and therefore the ruling had caused an uproar, anti-Semitism was rising, there was fear of pogroms locally and all around Poland. The Rav of Novominsk asked that the Chief Rabbi - Chacham Bashi, should try and convince the witnesses whom had run off to Israel to retract their words, thus saving Polish Jews from tragedy. The telegram had attached a prepaid receipt for a return telegram of up to 113 words.
Rabbi Elyashar called for the witnesses to appear before him and tell him their story. They retold the whole story of the crime, their testimony, the court ruling, their death threats and their escape to Israel.
The Rishon Lezion stood up and declared, "in my opinion the telegram is a forgery! It is very likely that the Rav of Novominsk isn't even aware of the Telegram or was forced to sign it. I think," continued the Rabbi, "that the telegram was sent from the families of the murderers who are trying to save their relatives. If the witnesses back down it will give the go ahead for terrible pogroms!"
Everyone was shocked.
In addition the Rishon Lezion sent his personal secretary to the elderly sage, Rabbi Shmuel Salant and get a second opinion. Rabbi Shmuel Salant heard the story and immediately replied that in his opinion the telegram is a forgery. The Chacham Bashi should reply that he has no authority to give any ruling outside his country."
And that is what they did.
A few weeks later, some Jewish newspapers arrived from Poland and the following article appeared.
"Due to the smartness and sharpness of the great Rabbanim in Yerushalaim, our enemies failed to trap them through a forged telegram sent as if from the Rabbi of Novominsk asking for the witnesses to retract their testimony. Had the Rabbis of Jerusalem fallen for the trap, the Jews of Poland would have suffered greatly and would have been victims to terrible revenge."
