Rav Yosef was nicknamed "Sinai" for his encyclopedic knowledge, but the Talmudic record of him reveals more of why the nickname was so apt. Just as Sinai, the smallest of all mountains, became the place for the giving of the Torah, this self-effacing genius nearly refused the mantle of leadership when it was awarded him. Though he suffered personal tragedies and received criticism in his public capacity, he was nonetheless beloved in his hometown for his gentle piety.