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The Masoretic Text (MT)
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Aryeh Shore 1 day ago.
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of course that is VaYatzeh
Since it is this week's parsha vayatzeh (2 of 3), I guess we should mention the greek words Chazal said were in the Torah. אימים hemiequus or hemienus; אחר - allo like in allosteric, the third word would be hydro for פרי הדר
I think there are a co...
While the Greek Septuagint might not be perfect, it still has somewhat to offer in helping us understand the meaning of certain words and phrases used in the Hebrew texts. For example, the Septuagint has elaborated on a few selected passages in th...
Israel 's sages (Treatise Sofrim 1:8) have counted some thirteen errors in the Pentateuch alone, not to mention its other errors! Some of these errors have since been corrected (perhaps by Origen) – e.g. Genesis 1:1, Gen. 1:26, Gen. 11:7, etc., bu...
Thanks Dovid, nice report.
Archaeological Evidence from Qumran in support of the Masoretic Text (MT)
This writing comes to dispel that fallacious argument, even the H70 theory (1) that has been spread amongst certain Christian scholars by those carried away by that dissim...
My dear friends, Rick and William, Shalom
RE: Archaeological Evidence from Qumran in support of the Masoretic Text (MT)
This writing comes to dispel that fallacious argument, even the H70 theory that has been spread amongst certain Christian sch...
Rick,
Since you have repeatedly stated your conviction that Jews have "altered" their original scriptures, saying, "altering the words of the prophets of Israel, then standardizing the altered version to remove the original text from circulation,...
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- Religion:
- Jewish
- Affiliation:
- Orthodox
- Torah Knowledge:
- Advanced
- Favorite Torah Subjects:
- Gemarah B"Keyus
- Location:
- Israel
- About Me:
- B"H
I am the smallest of the small, for sure. Yet do I have a desire for learning, and where possible, for teaching. I follow the orthodox Yemenite line of tradition.
- Personal Quote:
- "G-d did not make the lightning, nor the distant peals of thunder, except to straighten withal the crookedness in man's heart." (Berakhos)
- What would you like to gain from being a member of the community?:
- To learn and to teach.
- What will the community gain by having you as a member?:
- A deeper insight into the minds of our Sages. (Hopefully)
- Occupation:
- Translator
David Ben-Abraham's Blog
Words of Wisdom ( A Collection of Jewish Sayings)
WORDS of WISDOM
A COLLECTION OF JEWISH SAYINGS, PROVERBS, MAXIMS & DICTUMS
ON THE DIVINE LAW:
"A man ought always to occupy himself in the words of the Law, and in the commandments, even if it were not for their own sake. For at length, he will do it for their own sake."
לעולם יעסוק אדם בתורה ובמצות אפילו שלא לשמה. שמתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה.
"The Divine Law, the land of Israel and the world to come are all acquired through afflictions."
התורה וארץ ישראל והעולם הבא נקנין ביסורין… Continue
A COLLECTION OF JEWISH SAYINGS, PROVERBS, MAXIMS & DICTUMS
ON THE DIVINE LAW:
"A man ought always to occupy himself in the words of the Law, and in the commandments, even if it were not for their own sake. For at length, he will do it for their own sake."
לעולם יעסוק אדם בתורה ובמצות אפילו שלא לשמה. שמתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה.
"The Divine Law, the land of Israel and the world to come are all acquired through afflictions."
התורה וארץ ישראל והעולם הבא נקנין ביסורין… Continue
Posted on February 14, 2008 at 11:30am —
The Iggeres of Rav Sherira Gaon
B"H
Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich published some years back an excellent translation of the book, "The Iggeres of Rav Sherira Gaon." It is a must in every Jewish library, as it contains invaluable information as to the development of our Oral laws and traditions. Nevertheless, as every good work, it is not without its flaws and errors.
I have submitted here a copy of a letter that I recently sent to Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich about those discrepancies.
* * * *
… ContinuePosted on January 20, 2008 at 9:09am — 38 Comments
The Yemenite Ketubbah (Marriage Contract)
B"H
I've decided to post this article to the GY because of the vast information that it contains. Afterall, we're here to teach and to learn from one another. Enjoy!
David Ben-Abraham
… Continue Posted on January 1, 2008 at 1:30pm — 2 Comments
Excerpt from Rabbi Amram Qorah's "Sa'arath Teman." (Customs of Yemenite Jews)
Posted on July 29, 2007 at 3:25pm —
Comment Wall (10 comments)
- At 6:22pm on December 2, 2008,
Rabbi Joshua Waxman said…
- true, though awkward.
also, you have examples such as (from parshat Vayera):
ר"י בר רבי סימון בשם רבי חנין בשם רבי יוחנן העלה אותו למעלה מכיפת הרקיע הדא דהוא א"ל הבט נא השמימה אינו שייך לומר הבט אלא מלמעלה למטה
such a chain of quotations might suggest to me some passage of time, or students of students, though we need to examine the specific personages.
We have:
רבי הונא אמר עקמו עלי את הדרך כדי שלא תהיו נראים באים אצלי
where Rav Huna (if he is indeed the same) was a student of Rav.
We have a statement of בימי רבי חייא בר אבא, implying this was written at a later date. (though perhaps Rabbi Hoshaya wrote this after the passing of Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba?)
We would really need to look at all of the names, and see if they all belong to people contemporary to Rabbi Hoshaya. But why assume that he was the compiler in the first place?
Just a few ideas for how one might explore the pinning down of a specific date.
KT,
Josh
- At 3:37pm on December 2, 2008,
- See also here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=OO9wg_PZeNIC&pg=PA148&dq=zunz+midrash&ei=VDk1SaSNMYWcMr6DvKYI#PPA148,M1
A lot of this seems to trace back to Zunz.
- At 2:49pm on December 2, 2008,
- Shalom!
Off the cuff:
1) Rabbi Hoshaya Rabba seems not to be the son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, but rather the son of Chama.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoshaiah_Rabbah
though your source says otherwise.
I think it is unlikely that he was the *compiler* of Bereishit Rabba, even though they have a quotation from him at the beginning, which may have caused them to call it by his name. Just as we do not say that Rashi was written by Rabbi Yitzchak, even though Rashi starts with a citation from Rabbi Yitzchak.
Part of what causes me to doubt it is that if it were so that it was compiled by an early 1st generation Amora, then we would expect it to really only contain statements by Tannaim, just like braytot and Mishnayot contain statements by Tannaim. Instead, we have a collection of statements by first and second generation Amoraim included in it, including students of Rabbi Hoshaya Rabba.
Should we have statements by Resh Lakish, or by Rabbi Berechya?
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=802&letter=B&search=berechiah
In linguistic terms, the Aramaic found in Bereishit Rabba is the same flavor of Galilean Aramaic found in the Talmud Yerushalmi, such that when I took my grad school course in Galilean Aramaic, we made use of it.
2) Bli neder, I will have to get back to you on the date of other books of midrash rabba. But just because several sefarim eventually received a similar name does not mean that they were compiled by the same individual. My impression is that the dating of these sefarim is *mostly* done on the basis of linguistic grounds (e.g. there may be a different type of Aramaic used in Beresihit Rabba from that of Bemidbar Rabba), stylistic grounds (the types of drash being conducted and preferred), use of source material (thus if it would quote and discuss something clearly later -- I don't know of any such material offhand), and perhaps most importantly, how they are quoting by various Rishonim. Thus, Rashi clearly knows about Bereishit Rabba and quotes it extensively. But other sefarim of Midrash Rabba, not so much.
Thus, while Ramban makes use of Bemidbar Rabba extensively, earlier than that -- Rashi, Aruch, and Yalkut do not make use of it, while they do make use of other midrashim -- strongly suggesting that this came fairly late to the scene. Apparently, they also claim that content-wise (or perhaps stylistically), there is much that can be said to have been drawn from, or connected with, Rav Moshe haDarshan, and so they date it fairly late.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=617&letter=B&search=bemidbar%20rabba
But at any rate, this is what I have heard from more than one of my teachers, in terms of the respective dating of the midrashic works.
KT,
Josh
- At 10:36pm on October 3, 2008,
Hadassah said… - By the way-- I loved the Ketubah article.
- At 10:34pm on October 3, 2008,
Hadassah said…
- What do I do with my other page? OY!
- At 10:33pm on October 3, 2008,
Hadassah said…
- B"H!! David!! Hi, it has been such a long time!! It is me, Yocheved Hadassah Broscova. I couldn't find my old page, so thought I was erased due to the new construction of this site!! I did in fact start the orphanage in India; it is fantastic. I live in Oregon now with my two "babies ". They are 13 and 14 now. Unbelievable.
- At 3:57pm on April 10, 2008,
David Ben-Abraham said…
- Michael,
No, I hadn't seen your comment. But I will go back over the old comments and look for it now.
David
- At 5:51pm on April 6, 2008,
Michael Plaskow said… - B"H". Dear David, Did you see my comment on the SHAMIR? Kol Tuv MICHAEL PLASKOW
- At 3:36am on July 2, 2007,
Yocheved Hadassah Broscova said…
- B"H! Hope all is well with you! It has been a long time! I am starting an orphanage in India (Mumbai). Do you have friends there? Most of y friends are in Goa.
- At 2:08am on June 18, 2007,
rav chaim said… - "I am the smallest of the small, for sure."
I disagree :)
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