There are moments in Torah learning that feel almost electric—when a sugya (section) of Gemara suddenly aligns with a parashah in Chumash, and two seemingly unrelated branches merge into a single, powerful trunk. In those moments, we do more than uncover a beautiful idea: we catch a fleeting glimpse of the unity of the Torah itself (our Etz HaChaim—Tree of Life), and, by extension, the unity of the Almighty.

Such a moment emerges when we place a striking aggadah in Kiddushin alongside Yaakov Avinu’s encounter with the Sar Shel Esav in parashat Vayishlach. Though seemingly separated by genre and context—one unfolding in the Bet Midrash of Abaye and the other on the road to a fateful reunion with Esav—these two narratives converge to reveal a timeless lesson about prayer, humility, and the ongoing struggle against evil.

The Seven-Headed Serpent in Abaye’s Bet Midrash

The Gemara in Kiddushin (29b) relates that Rav Acha bar Yaakov sent his son to study in Abaye’s Bet Midrash. When the son returned home, Rav Acha perceived that his learning had not sharpened as hoped and concluded that he himself was better suited to attend in his son’s place.

At that time, Abaye’s Bet Midrash was plagued by a powerful demon—a seven-headed serpent that attacked even during the daytime and even when people walked together. Recognizing Rav Acha bar........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)