YOSSI: Yoeli! Teveria is not in the center of Eretz Yisrael! It’s kind of at the top… nowhere near Yerushalayim which is in middle!
YOELI: Aha! So the Gemara explains, that although Teveria was named after a Roman general, its name actually has a lot of pnimiyus to it. For example, the word “Tavor,” means “center.”
YOSSI: But –
YOELI: After the churban Bayis Sheini, the Sanhedrin eventually landed here. Chazal explain, that wherever the Torah is, that’s the center!
YOSSI: That makes sense because not only was the Sanhedrin here but Tanna’im and Amora’im walked here, too!
YOELI: Right! Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis, who is buried here, is a great example!
YOSSI: Yes. Rabbi Meir’s rebbe as well. Rabbi Akiva is buried right there on that hill!
YOELI: Yes, and Rabbi Meir also learned from Elisha Ben Avuya, also known as Acher. Acher saw certain things and misunderstood them and strayed from the path of Torah. One day he heard a bas kol say, “Shuvu banim shovevim chutz M’Acher. Everyone can return except for Acher.” Our Tzadikim explain that he misheard. Hashem may have been pushing him, but he was expected to fight back and do teshuvah. Hashem doesn’t give up on anyone.
YOSSI: Wow. Even when we feel it’s hard to learn, we should remember, Hashem gave us the Torah personally – and we can get up and try again!
YOELI: Powerful Yos. Teveria is actually one of the lowest cities in the world. As a city of Torah, it teaches us that a Yid is never too low or too far from Hashem! Can’t wait to explore Teveria even deeper next week!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 25.