More Discussions for this daf
1. Avraham Avinu cooked for Nochrim 2. Two Shmuels or One 3. Raba bar Rav Huna
4. Pesach 5. A Raven flew by 6. Army of Nochrim
7. Rav Avia 8. The Chumra of Raban Gamliel 9. Graf Shel Re'i
10. תוד"ה עושה אדם כל צרכו
DAF DISCUSSIONS - BEITZAH 21

Pinchos Osher Rohr asks:

Why didn't Rav Huna just say the straight truth - Listen, you're asking a good question and I've got a good answer but I'm worn out from saying a big drosho so could you please ask me another time when I'll be able to discuss it with with the kavod you deserve. What would be wrong with that?

Pinchos Osher Rohr, Yerushalaim

The Kollel replies:

The Perush ha'Boneh (in the Ein Yakov), who presumably is bothered by the same problem, gives the flowing explanation: When a famous Posek (such as Rav Huna) is asked a Halachic question that he is not currently able to answer, the wise thing to do is to put off the questioner by changing the subject. In that way, he will not deter him from coming back another time with other questions. Otherwise, he says, the Posek risks becoming a disgrace and losing the good name, and being able to have the positive influence, that he has spent a long time building up.

I would suggest, along similar lines, that a person who is not used to giving public Derashos would not understand to what extent a public Derashah drains the energies of the Darshan. Consequently, had Rav Huna refused to answer him directly, it would have been an embarrassment for Rav Huna. So he chose

a roundabout way of distracting him.

B'Virchas Kol Tuv,

Eleizer Chrysler