The Talmud relates a story: Three sages, Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Yehusha, and Rabbi Akiva, went to a meat market to buy meat for the wedding feast of Rabban Gamliel's son. While in the meat market, Rabbi Akiva asked about the meaning of the verse in Vayishlach that the sun rose for Yaakov: "Did the sun just shine only for Yaklov? It shone for everyone!"

There are many conversations people can have in meat markets. Why did Rabbi Akiva decide to discuss the sun shining for Jacob after his fight in the midst of night?

The class explores the origin of the prayer of Maariv—and the grand debate about the nature of this particular prayer. It tells the enigmatic story about the “mutiny” against Raban Gamliel when he insulted Reb Yehoshua who maintained that Maariv was elective rather than compulsory.

The clas was presented on Sunday Parshas Vayeitzei, 4 Kislev 5777, December 4, 2016, at Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY.