Daf Yomi - Beitza 15 - Learning or Eating, that is the Question

The Gemora relates a story regarding Rabbi Eliezer who was teaching the laws of Yom tov to his students for the entire day of Yom Tov. The Gemora recounts how there were several groups of students at different intervals during the day that left the shiur. Rabbi Eliezer kept commenting how these students were engrossed in their own physical pleasure and they weren't involved in the proper exertion for learning Torah. As the sixth group prepared to leave, Rabbi Eliezer declared that these are dismal people since due to them the Beis Medrash had become empty. Rabbi Eliezer told the remaining students that the others who left had abandoned the learning of Torah which brings about eternal life and occupied themselves with provisional needs.

The Gemora asks on Rabbi Eliezer's criticism regarding the students who left and rebuking them that they were occupying themselves with provisional needs. Isn't there a mitzva of eating on Yom Tov? What was so terrible about going to fulfill the mitzva of eating on Yom Tov? The Gemora answers that Rabbi Eliezer is of the opinion that eating on Yom Tov is only optional. the Gemora cites a braisa where Rabbi Yehoshua rules that one should divide his time on Yom Tov. Half the day, one should rejoice with food and drink while the other half of the day, he should be involved in pursuing his spiritual needs, such as learning Torah and tefillah. Rabbi Eliezer maintains that a person has a choice and can either spend the entire day of Yom Tov rejoicing with food and drink or he can occupy himself with learning Torah.

The Birkas Avrohom is nonetheless troubled as to how the Gemora can say that eating on Yom Tov is considered a temporary need when Rabbi Eliezer agrees that there is a mitzva to eat if one so desires? He answers profoundly that the mitzva of eating on Yom Tov pales in comparison to the mitzva of learning Torah on Yom Tov. Eating is considered provisional when it is contrasted to the mitzva of learning Torah.

Rav Meir Bergman in Shaarei Orah (Parshas Mishpatim) adds that even though the students were ravished at the time, the act of leaving the Beis Medrash and causing that the Beis Medrash should become empty was deserving of Rabbi Eliezer's curse.

How careful one must be when closing a sefer or leaving the Beis Medrash.