14 Comments
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Gilad Drori's avatar

I'm not sure that this will make the hippies change course, but it certainly provides basis for my existing skepticism regarding that particular interpretation. Much appreciated.

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Joshua Shalet's avatar

I am so happy that the author recognises Breslov as a cult. The highest value is TRUTH, not "happiness".

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Daniel Crespin's avatar

Thank you for writing! It was very interesting for me to pause and think what the word תחת actually means.

I read this article before Sukkot and over the Chag while doing my daily Nach learning I came across the following Passuk in Divrei Hayamim II: Perek 34 Passukim 24-25. I am curious to hear what you think, because the usage of תחת there does seem to simply mean 'because'.

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משכיל בינה's avatar

Yikes! You have me banged to rights. That's what comes from having bad bekius in Nach. There is another pasuk in Divrei haYamin with the same meaning too (21:12). I feel very embarrassed, and will have to substantially re-write the whole article.

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Karpas's avatar

what about דברים ד:לז

ותחת כי אהב את־אבתיך ויבחר בזרעו אחריו ויוצאך בפניו בכחו הגדל ממצרים

also דברים כא:יד

לא תתעמר בה תחת אשר עניתה

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משכיל בינה's avatar

OK, I think maybe I should delete my account, there's also Devarim 22:29.

I think Shadal is right: זה שאסור לך להתעמר בה הוא חלף ובשכר מה שעניתה, וכיוצא בזה למטה כ"ב כ"ט

So it means 'in exchange for', but that is close enough to 'because' that it is pedantic to object to it. The real objection to the Breslev p'shat is not that it can't mean that lexically, but that it can't mean that contextually, but that is harder to establish if one doesn't share certain presuppositions about what is reasonable or how to read a text.

I don't publish very much on this blog because it takes a lot of time I don't have to do the research and writing, and this was the one time I just sat down and banged something out, and I guess this shows why it's not a good idea to do that.

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Lev's avatar

I wonder if you have anything interesting to say about the Yemenite Jewish Community's response to the Zohar.

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Jacob Lemons's avatar

This is a very long winded way of saying you’re not enjoying sitting in the sukkah

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משכיל בינה's avatar

I wrote it before Succos. For the record, it's been great in the succah this year - like most years - except for one night siren. Should you happen to be travelling round the Golan today or tomorrow, DM and you can come over for some tea and cake, and a pipe if you dabble - I picked up some excellent tobacco in England this summer.

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Jacob Lemons's avatar

I am in upstate New York, but thank you!

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Shadow Rebbe's avatar

"Many hundreds of thousands of Jews believe that the Torah says something which it plainly does not. It can’t hurt to point it out."

but of those whose opinions matter- what's the percentage? That's a more important questions I think. (although stupidity has some power of osmosis, and it's an act of benevolence to enlighten others and correct their errors as well)

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משכיל בינה's avatar

We're not very far advanced on a sociology of halacha, so I'm not sure how many people's opinions matter, and in what proportions, but I would be surprised if it's less than 50%, and I'd guess 75%.

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Mar 11
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משכיל בינה's avatar

OK, fair play. I could try and get my way out of it by claiming he's not a real Rishon, but the truth is I just never thought to look there. Will edit BN

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Oct 21
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משכיל בינה's avatar

I literally quote that in the article.

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