Comments for Shteig Shtark

Comment on 10 Amot Tall by Yaakov Ellis

Yaakov Ellis — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:04:25 +0000

10 Amot = approximately 4.8 meters = 15.7 feet

Comment on Rivka’s Age II by Mechael

Mechael — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:22:42 +0000

See jewishlegends.com, Tanach Section, which bings down a Tosafos saying that Rivkah was much older than 3 years old when she married Yitzchak Avinu.

Comment on 10 Amot Tall by Carmel

Carmel — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:29:18 +0000

So are you saying that 10 amot equals to 15 feet?

Comment on The Conquests of Menashe by Ariel

Ariel — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:52:21 +0000

See http://allyourbeis.blogspot.com/2006/11/early-decision.html
See also the middle of http://allyourbeis.blogspot.com/2007/07/thoughts-on-matotmasei.html

Comment on Rivka’s Age II by S.

S. — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:17:38 +0000

>Yes, this is exactly why I object to the widespread belief that Rivka was three. The truth – ie the point the Midrash was trying to make – is far more complicated, but how many Jews ever get around to investigating the issue? Instead they go thtrough life imagining that Rivka was three, according to authentic, traditional, beleife and that’s it.

you know I agree with you. i don’t think the historical rivka was three and I too am dismayed when intelligent adults not only think that but are unaware that this is but one opinion, and that there is another one.

but you know what? we keep saying “there are deeper meanings” in fantastic midrashim. well, what is the deeper meaning in this one? is it only to preserve chronology?

i think at a certain point people like us have to stop just espousing a rational stance vis a vid midrashim and actually start tackling these midrashim, and trying to uncover the “deeper meaning”. If there is a midrash that she was three, then what, according to US is it trying to convey?

Comment on The First FFB by Yaakov

Yaakov — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:04:20 +0000

That depends on what you are referring to…

Comment on The First FFB by adderabbi

adderabbi — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:01:07 +0000

this is a chazakah, no?

Comment on Rivka’s Age II by Yaakov

Yaakov — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 22:06:01 +0000

I think that point is that maybe she was three. Or maybe the midrash is to teach something else by saying that she was three. Simply saying “three?? ludicrous” is ignoring the fact that there is a thought-process, based on accepted hermeneutic principles of interpreting the text that legitimately concludes that she wasthree.

I am not sure completely sure if this was the point that you were trying to make in your post (after reading what you wrote, I am getting something of a “three?? ludicrous” feeling). Feel free to let me know if I got things wrong.

Comment on Rivka’s Age II by dovbear

dovbear — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 20:15:49 +0000

Yes, this is exactly why I object to the widespread belief that Rivka was three. The truth – ie the point the Midrash was trying to make – is far more complicated, but how many Jews ever get around to investigating the issue? Instead they go thtrough life imagining that Rivka was three, according to authentic, traditional, beleife and that’s it.

Comment on Priorities in Mitzvot by Yaakov

Yaakov — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 03:24:46 +0000

In my investigations so far, I have found two different approaches in the commentators: The first approach is that 9:4 records a totally different trip than 12:5. This explanation is found in the Rosh on Yevamot Chapter 6, Siman 12. According to this explanation, in passuk 4, Avram went with Lot to the Land of Israel, and it is at this time that he experienced Brit Bein haBetarim. This happened when he was 70 years old (we know this because yetziat mitzrayim occurred 430 years after the Brit Bein haBetarim, or 400 years after the birth of Yitzchak. We also know that Yitzchak was born when Avraham was 100 years old. If you do the math, you will see that Brit Bein haBetarim occurred when Avraham was 70 years old. Yet we read explicitly in 12:5 that Avraham was 75 years old when he left Charan. So in order for Avraham to have left Charan at age 75, there really must have been two separate trips - one detailed in verse 4 (the "pilot trip" with Lot) and one detailed in verse 5. The second approach (from the Netziv on 12:4) is an extension of what was written in the post above. Avram, in his enthusiasm to follow Hashem's command to go to the Land of Israel, could not wait for his entire household to pack up all of their things and sell the house in Charan. He had to leave right away. So that is what he did (with Lot). At some point after he had embarked on his journey, he waited for his wife and the rest of his household to catch up. Once they were all together...verse 5. (The Netziv refers to the Rosh's explanation as a "Peleh" - however, according to the Netziv how do you explain the 5 year gap between leaving the Brit and leaving Charan in verse 5. However, neither of these explanations gives a satisfactory reason why Lot is seemingly demoted in importance from being a central character in 12:4 to just being one more person in the entourage in verse 12:5. Any thoughts?