Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Behaalotekha/0/en"

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<p>How is Miryam and Aharon's critique of Moshe to be understood?&#160; Was this simply idle and misguided chatter, or did they have a fundamental disagreement with his behavior leading them question his authority as leader?</p>
 
<p>How is Miryam and Aharon's critique of Moshe to be understood?&#160; Was this simply idle and misguided chatter, or did they have a fundamental disagreement with his behavior leading them question his authority as leader?</p>
 
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<li>The Sifre views Miryam and Aharon as intending no harm, and in fact trying to improve Moshe's family life by encouraging the resumption of normal relations between Moshe and Zipporah.&#160; Modern scholars, in contrast, cast&#160; Miryam and Aharon in a negative light, suggesting that they were contesting Moshe's leadership and claiming to be his equals.&#160; Debate the two positions, pointing out the pros and cons of each.&#160; See <a href="Miryam's Critique of Moshe and his Cushite Marriage" data-aht="page">Miryam's Critique of Moshe and his Cushite Marriage</a>.</li>
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<li>The Sifre views Miryam and Aharon as intending no harm, and in fact trying to improve Moshe's family life by encouraging the resumption of normal relations between Moshe and Zipporah.&#160; R"Y Bekhor Shor, instead, presents the siblings as bothered by what they perceived as hubris in Moshe's decision to marry a non-Israelite.&#160; Modern scholars cast&#160; Miryam and Aharon in an even more negative light, suggesting that they were contesting Moshe's leadership and claiming to be his equals.&#160; Debate the various positions, pointing out the pros and cons of each.&#160; See <a href="Miryam's Critique of Moshe and his Cushite Marriage" data-aht="page">Miryam's Critique of Moshe and his Cushite Marriage</a>.</li>
<li>R"Y Bekhor Shor offers a different reading of the story presenting the siblings as bothered by what they perceived as hubris in Moshe's decision to marry a non-Israelite.&#160; Was intermarriage in fact prohibited at this time?&#160; Even if not, was it not preferable to marry an Israelite?&#160; If so, were the siblings not justified in their complaint?</li>
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<li>Was intermarriage prohibited at this point in history?&#160; Is it a Biblical prohibition at all?&#160; Even if not, was not marrying an Israelite the ideal, and Miryam and Aharon thus somewhat justified in their complaint?</li>
<li>Ibn Kaspi presents Miryam and Aharon as upset that Moshe veered from the monogamous ideal by taking an additional wife.&#160; He defends Moshe by asserting that celibacy is unnatural and that the greater a person's deeds, the greater their desire. His position is an explicit reaction to Christian ideals of abstinence, and expectation of clerical celibacy.&#160;</li>
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<li>When is it wrong to speak about another? If your intentions are to help the other, is it allowed? If you truly believe that another's actions are problematic, is it wrong to consult someone about their behavior before approaching the person yourself?</li>
<li>Is it always wrong to speak about another?&#160; What if your intentions are to help the other?&#160; If you truly believe that another's actions are wrong, is it problematic to consult someone about their behavior before approaching the person yourself?</li>
 
 
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Version as of 02:48, 5 June 2017

Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Behaalotekha

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What was the Selav?

Miryam's Speech: Gossip or Challenge to Authority?

How is Miryam and Aharon's critique of Moshe to be understood?  Was this simply idle and misguided chatter, or did they have a fundamental disagreement with his behavior leading them question his authority as leader?

  • The Sifre views Miryam and Aharon as intending no harm, and in fact trying to improve Moshe's family life by encouraging the resumption of normal relations between Moshe and Zipporah.  R"Y Bekhor Shor, instead, presents the siblings as bothered by what they perceived as hubris in Moshe's decision to marry a non-Israelite.  Modern scholars cast  Miryam and Aharon in an even more negative light, suggesting that they were contesting Moshe's leadership and claiming to be his equals.  Debate the various positions, pointing out the pros and cons of each.  See Miryam's Critique of Moshe and his Cushite Marriage.
  • Was intermarriage prohibited at this point in history?  Is it a Biblical prohibition at all?  Even if not, was not marrying an Israelite the ideal, and Miryam and Aharon thus somewhat justified in their complaint?
  • When is it wrong to speak about another? If your intentions are to help the other, is it allowed? If you truly believe that another's actions are problematic, is it wrong to consult someone about their behavior before approaching the person yourself?