tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post9078130398940619823..comments2024-03-27T16:27:03.093+02:00Comments on Shiloh Musings: Pinchas--The Not PC Torah Hero and Rabbi AkivaBatyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09402874037427009327noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-88819496216179158532008-07-20T16:07:00.000+03:002008-07-20T16:07:00.000+03:00Goyish, great points.ThanksGoyish, great points.<BR/>ThanksBatyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11246929075812590204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-49375450399526986712008-07-20T15:36:00.000+03:002008-07-20T15:36:00.000+03:00Rabbi Akiva and Moshe had a lot in common. Moshe R...Rabbi Akiva and Moshe had a lot in common. Moshe Rabbeinu was raised in a non-Jewish environment, Pharaoh's palace, followed by many years in Ethiopia and Midian. Rabbi Akiva was a descendent of gerim, raised without a Torah education. They both needed an intensive period of Torah only in order to do what they had to do. The problem was that their behavior in this regard was neither intended to be an example for ordinary Jews, nor was it meant to be the subject of gossip. Miriam was therefore punished. Here and there in the Mishnah you find snide remarks by Rabbi Akiva's colleagues which seem to indicate unacceptable references to his past. Disciples often pick up characteristics from their rebbe in an indiscriminate way. Rabbi Meir was exceptional in that he learned from Elisha ben Avuya, who went off the derech, without being influenced by his character defects. But that is not the recommended course of action. One is required to find a rav of exceptional character and learn from him. This should not include slavish imitation. Unfortunately we find Lubavitchers who smoke Marlboro and talmidim of Rav Soloveitchik who copied his sharp wit at the expense of others. The balance between following a rav and independent thinking is admittedly very hard to achieve.goyisherebbehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380171052449799815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-59511440370513916222008-07-20T11:33:00.000+03:002008-07-20T11:33:00.000+03:00by-what sources?shlomo, that's what Miriam was pun...by-what sources?<BR/>shlomo, that's what Miriam was punished for talking about.Batyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11246929075812590204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-77592756050219183162008-07-20T00:51:00.000+03:002008-07-20T00:51:00.000+03:00According to the midrash, Moshe lived separate fro...According to the midrash, Moshe lived separate from his wife for many years, this seems to have been a necessary condition for prophecy (at his level at least).<BR/><BR/>But I don't think this a model for other people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-46790178777719030482008-07-19T22:46:00.000+03:002008-07-19T22:46:00.000+03:00I dunno.I disagree with your supposition about Rab...I dunno.<BR/><BR/>I disagree with your supposition about Rabbi Aqiva and his wife.<BR/><BR/>Sources suggest the opposite.Esser Agarothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12853681733864707489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-44353180835065073372008-07-19T21:54:00.000+03:002008-07-19T21:54:00.000+03:00I'm not a big medrash fan.But how would you connec...I'm not a big medrash fan.<BR/><BR/>But how would you connect those two numbers?Batyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11246929075812590204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040911.post-20286889550867794492008-07-18T16:47:00.000+03:002008-07-18T16:47:00.000+03:00B"HYes and no. The midrash states that this was on...B"H<BR/><BR/>Yes and no. The midrash states that this was one of the halachoth that Moshe Rabbenu forgot, when asked what should be done.<BR/><BR/>Pinhas remembered. Yes, he did implement it on his own. As the Ramba"m points [and others] out, this is one of the situations not requiring adjudication before a beth din. They fulfilled all of the requirements for the punishment to be implemented.Esser Agarothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12853681733864707489noreply@blogger.com