tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624420178579748556.post7572051236799397150..comments2022-12-13T12:11:17.699+02:00Comments on Parsha'l Thoughts: Four Sons Walk into Paradise... an IntroductionShelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02511343642691365840noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624420178579748556.post-15521530348792187732014-06-17T02:09:34.073+03:002014-06-17T02:09:34.073+03:00I think you misunderstood my last comment. Basical...I think you misunderstood my last comment. Basically, I am saying that since Rashi chose to quote R. Yitzchak (from an earlier midrash), Rashi is saying that he agrees with the midrash and sees it as a valid comment on the verse. As such, Rashi understands the assumption of the question in the midrash (as I noted above). That is what I mean when I say it is fair to attribute the comment to Rashi; although he didn't entirely originate it (but see below), by choosing this comment from among many midrashic comments he makes it his own, as well. <br /><br />Further, the comment seems to be a mashup of two earlier midrashim. I'll paste them in below and you'll see what I mean. It would seem, then, that the total of Rashi's comment is more than what R. Yitzchak said which contributes further to the understanding that this notion can be attributed to Rashi. <br /><br />Here are the sources for the comment (based on Abraham Berliner's notes in his edition of Rashi)[apologies--I can't control styles for Hebrew in the comments section]:<br /><br />מדרש תנחומא (בובר) פרשת בראשית סימן יא <br /><br />[יא] אמר ר' יצחק לא היה צריך לכתוב את התורה אלא מהחדש הזה לכם, ולמה כתב מבראשית, להודיע כח גבורתו, שנאמר כח מעשיו הגיד לעמו לתת להם נחלת גוים (תהלים קיא ו). <br /><br />בראשית רבה (תיאודור-אלבק) פרשת בראשית פרשה א <br /><br />ר' יהושע דסכנין בשם ר' לוי פתח כח מעשיו הגיד לעמו לתת להם נחלת וגו' (תהלים קיא ו), מה טעם גילה הקדוש ברוך הוא לישראל מה שנברא ביום ראשון וביום ב' וג', מפני אומות העולם שלא יהו מונים את ישראל ואומ' להם הלא אומה שלבזזות אתם אתמהא, וישראל משיבין להם ואתם הלא בזוזה היא בידכם הלא כפתרים היוצאים מכפתור השמידום וגו' (דברים ב כג), העולם ומלאו שלהקב"ה הוא, כשרצה נתנו לכם וכשרצה נטלו מכם ונתנו לנו הדא היא דכת' לתת להם נחלת גוים, כח מעשיו הגיד לעמו הגיד להם את הבראשית בראשית ברא אלהים וגו'. <br /><br />Shelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02511343642691365840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624420178579748556.post-65844410774121030992014-06-16T06:02:30.452+03:002014-06-16T06:02:30.452+03:00Tell me more about this R. Yitzchak thing. I know ...Tell me more about this R. Yitzchak thing. I know Rashi is R. Shlomo ben Yitzchak, but I didn't realize that quotes attributed to R. Yitzchak could have originated with Rashi himself. News to me.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10910354285815836605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624420178579748556.post-84324396137250961932014-06-13T08:37:10.488+03:002014-06-13T08:37:10.488+03:00Hi Aaron,
Thanks for your well phrased comment. ...Hi Aaron, <br /><br />Thanks for your well phrased comment. Of course, I agree with you. I was not impugning Rashi with undue emphasis on halacha personally; I was merely pointing out that his question begins with an assumption that receiving the mitzvot, in particular for the children of Israel, is the main point of Torah. Clearly, his answer dispenses with that assumption, thus proving my point, as you indicate. <br /><br />I have seen it said that halacha is the body while aggadah is the soul of Torah (can't remember a citation for that). What is most interesting to me is when they show themselves to be so linked that you can't really tease them apart. Some of this will come up in later posts.<br /><br />And, btw, of course Rashi chooses to quote R. Yitzchak so it is fair enough to attribute the assumption (again, in his question) to Rashi himself. <br /><br />I look forward to more insights on your part!<br /><br />Shelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02511343642691365840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624420178579748556.post-15175199207691569832014-06-12T22:53:40.586+03:002014-06-12T22:53:40.586+03:00Interesting post. I'm excited to see where thi...Interesting post. I'm excited to see where this goes!<br /><br />However, let's not give Rashi the short shrift just yet. He's on your side, after all! It's that darn R. Yitzchaq saying we should start with החדש הזה. Rashi, sensing this might also be a concern in his own day, takes the chance to respond to the idea that: We recall the acts of God to show how Israel comes into his inheritance (subtext: culminating in the inheritance of all creation?).<br /><br />For Rashi, halachah may be the concern that occupies most of his time; it deals with the mundane aspects of how we conduct life every minute of every day, but he also establishes the profound existential importance of aggadah to tell Israel where they come from and where they are going. His commentary is a prime example of how understanding the mitzvot as a part of a greater aggadah enrich both parts, and ultimately lead to the greater enrichment of the student.<br /><br />A mitzva by itself can tell you what to do, but it doesn't tell you why you do it. The halachah gives life, but the aggadah gives a reason for living. I think Rashi's response to R. Yitzchaq illustrates that pretty well.<br /><br />Obviously, this is not to detract from what you're saying. Just reinforcing it by showing that Rashi was right there with you!Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10910354285815836605noreply@blogger.com