At some point during the school year, while teaching Gemara, I tell my students about Paul Harvey.
Paul Harvey was a famous radio broadcaster. He had a unique presentation of news segments on ABC Radio that made him very popular and pleasant to listen to.
One of his famous segments was known as The Rest of the Story. The Rest of the Story consisted of stories presented as little-known or forgotten facts on a variety of subjects. A key element of the story – often the name of the well-known protagonist – was deliberately omitted until the very end of the broadcast.
In the final sentence, Harvey would reveal the previously omitted name or detail, giving the story its satisfying, ironic twist. Then Harvey concluded with his signature ending: “And now you know...the rest of the story.”
What does Paul Harvey have to do with learning Gemara?
Very often, the Gemara will present a strong question on the vernacular of a mishnah. The Gemara will then resolve the perplexity by saying, “Chisurei mechsera, v’hachi k’tani” – There are words missing, and this is how the mishnah should be read. The Gemara will then explain that the case mentioned in the mishnah is not based on a simple reading of the words. Rather, it is referring to a specific case, which it then enumerates.
Essentially, the Gemara is telling us “the rest of the story.”
During my rudimentary years learning Gemara, I thought that whenever the Gemara concluded with “Chisurei mechsera, v’hachi k’tani,” it was a Talmudic cop-out answer. However, over time I realized that the concept represents a hallmark of the Mishnah.
We know that the Torah consists of two parts: the Written Torah, which comprises the 24 books of Tanach, and the Oral Torah, which contains the laws and explanations orally instructed to Moshe at Sinai, as well as the exegetical teachings of the Sages.
The Torah is called a “living Torah.” It was never meant to be learned solely from texts. Rather, it must be learned from teachers who are living examples of Torah living. The emotional love, passion, and unwavering commitment to Torah cannot be learned from books. It must be an organic and dynamic experience.
Often, a rebbi of elementary school yeshivah students will take his students to a yeshivah of older students to witness an average morning. The thunderous roar and energy in the packed room of budding scholars learning and debating the nuances of the texts before them is riveting. It leaves a deep impression upon the youths who have never seen anything like it in their lives. They literally see the Torah come to life. The written word can never capture that fiery passion.
It was only when Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi saw that the Oral Law was being forgotten, and numerous disputes had arisen, that he made the daring decision to breach the tradition of the Oral Law for the sake of its preservation. It was then that he recorded the oral teachings of Torah as the Mishnah.
However, Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi wanted to ensure that the “written Oral Law” would still retain its flavor of being an Oral Law. He did so by purposely leaving out some key details, and writing the Mishnah somewhat vaguely. Although the basic concepts were now recorded for posterity, it was still impossible to learn Mishnah without oral traditions and teachers.
Then, a few centuries later, it became necessary for the Gemara to be recorded to ensure the traditions of how the Mishnah is to be understood would not be forgotten. That is at the root of many of the explanations in the Gemara, including whenever it says “Chisurei mechsera, v’hachi k’tani.” Essentially, the Gemara is telling us “the rest of the story.” A classic example is when a mishnah may have seemed to be discussing one topic, but the Gemara informs us that it was actually referring to a specific situation and that its words were not meant to apply universally.
Recently, I saw an essay by Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, host of the noted 18Forty podcast, in which he wrote the following:
“Essentially, I believe the structure of the Talmud is deliberately chaotic to mirror the experience of exile. Studying the Gemara teaches us how to find meaning in a darkened world, and in order to do so, it deliberately mirrors the chaos of exile itself.”
In a similar vein, I believe the concept of “Chisurei mechsera, v’hachi k’tani” is a lesson in life. So often, we think we understand a situation or another person, and we judge that situation or person based on our conclusions. But we have no way of knowing that Chisurei mechsera, v’hachi k’tani – there is much beneath the surface that we are unaware of.
Unlike the broadcasts of Paul Harvey, we aren’t always privy to “the rest of the story.” At times, that can even be true regarding our own lives. We may undergo hardships or struggles and become frustrated that our prayers don’t seem to be answered. We are often unable to see how everything is for the best. Still, knowing that there is a “rest of the story” can help us endure the travails and vicissitudes we are subject to.
That is where Paul Harvey fits with learning Gemara.
And now you know…the rest of the story.
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is a popular speaker, columnist, and author. He is a rebbe at Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck, NJ. and principal of Mesivta Orchos Yosher in Spring Valley, NY. Rabbi Staum is also a member of the administration of Camp Dora Golding. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and at www.strivinghigher.com.