Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bereshit/0/he"

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<h1>נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת בראשית</h1>
 
<h1>נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת בראשית</h1>
<category>Doublings and Contradictions
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<category>סתירות וכפילויות
<p>When learning Torah, the reader periodically encounters stories which appear to contain unnecessary doublings or even internal contradictions.&#160; Already in the opening chapters of Sefer Bereshit there is a case in point.&#160; The world's creation is described twice, in both Chapters 1 and 2, and the two accounts do not concur on many details.</p>
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<p>בעת לימוד תורה, הקורא נחשף לעיתים קרובות לסיפורים שנדמים כמכילים כפילויות מיותרות או אפילו סתירות פנימיות. כבר בפרקים הראשונים של ספר בראשית ישנו מקרה שכזה. בריאת העולם מתוארת פעמיים, בן בפרק א' והן בפרק ב'ף ושני התיאורים נדמים כסותרים בנקודות רבות.</p>
 
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<li>In general, how can repetitions or inconsistencies in the Biblical account be explained?</li>
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<li>באופן כללי, כיצד ניתן להסביר סתירות או כפילויות בטקסט המקראי?</li>
 
<li>Commentators on our specific case deal with the doubling in various ways.&#160; Some suggest that it is merely a literary device in which a general overview is followed by detailed elaboration. Others are more philosophical in their outlook, claiming that each account focuses on a different aspect of man and the world. A final approach suggests that the two chapters don't speak of the same event at all; one tells of the creation of the world and humanity at large, while the other speaks of the specific creation of the individual "Adam".&#160; Which of these do you find most compelling?</li>
 
<li>Commentators on our specific case deal with the doubling in various ways.&#160; Some suggest that it is merely a literary device in which a general overview is followed by detailed elaboration. Others are more philosophical in their outlook, claiming that each account focuses on a different aspect of man and the world. A final approach suggests that the two chapters don't speak of the same event at all; one tells of the creation of the world and humanity at large, while the other speaks of the specific creation of the individual "Adam".&#160; Which of these do you find most compelling?</li>
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<li>פרשנים במקרה הספציפי שלנו מתמודדים עם הכפילויות בדרכים שונות. ישנם כאלו המציעים כי זהו רק כלי ספרותי בו תיאור&#160;כללי קודם לתיאור מפורט של אירוע. אחרים יותר פילוסופיים בגישתם, וטוענים כי כל תיאור מתמקד בהיבט שונה של האדם ושל העולם. הגישה האחרונה מציעה כי שני הפרקים אינם מתייחסים לאותו האירוע כלל;&#160;הראשון מתאר את בריאת העולם והאנושות בכללותה, בעוד השני מתאר את יצירתו של יחיד בשם "אדם". אילו מהגישות נראית לכם הכי משכנעת?</li>
 
<li>For elaboration, see <a href="Two Accounts of Creation: Bereshit 1–2" data-aht="page"> Two Accounts of Creation</a>.</li>
 
<li>For elaboration, see <a href="Two Accounts of Creation: Bereshit 1–2" data-aht="page"> Two Accounts of Creation</a>.</li>
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<li>להרחבה ראו</li>
 
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<category>Technology and Morality
 
<category>Technology and Morality
<p>The enigmatic tale of Lemekh and his wives touches on many issues including guilt and the power of repentance, the downsides to polygamy, and the dangers of technological advances.</p>
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<p>The enigmatic tale of Lemekh and his wives touches on many issues including guilt and the power of repentance, the downsides to polygamy, and the dangers of technological advances.</p><ul>
<ul>
 
 
<li>Which is the worse penalty&#160;– a guilty conscience or a physical punishment? See Seforno's take on this question in his analysis of <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li>
 
<li>Which is the worse penalty&#160;– a guilty conscience or a physical punishment? See Seforno's take on this question in his analysis of <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li>
 
<li>Is there any correlation between technological advances and the morality of a society? How often does scientific progress promote ethical behavior?&#160; How often does it lead to its deterioration? See how Ramban, HaKetav VeHakabbalah, and Cassuto address these questions in their reading of <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li>
 
<li>Is there any correlation between technological advances and the morality of a society? How often does scientific progress promote ethical behavior?&#160; How often does it lead to its deterioration? See how Ramban, HaKetav VeHakabbalah, and Cassuto address these questions in their reading of <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li>

Version as of 02:19, 9 July 2019

נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת בראשית

סתירות וכפילויות

בעת לימוד תורה, הקורא נחשף לעיתים קרובות לסיפורים שנדמים כמכילים כפילויות מיותרות או אפילו סתירות פנימיות. כבר בפרקים הראשונים של ספר בראשית ישנו מקרה שכזה. בריאת העולם מתוארת פעמיים, בן בפרק א' והן בפרק ב'ף ושני התיאורים נדמים כסותרים בנקודות רבות.

  • באופן כללי, כיצד ניתן להסביר סתירות או כפילויות בטקסט המקראי?
  • Commentators on our specific case deal with the doubling in various ways.  Some suggest that it is merely a literary device in which a general overview is followed by detailed elaboration. Others are more philosophical in their outlook, claiming that each account focuses on a different aspect of man and the world. A final approach suggests that the two chapters don't speak of the same event at all; one tells of the creation of the world and humanity at large, while the other speaks of the specific creation of the individual "Adam".  Which of these do you find most compelling?
  • פרשנים במקרה הספציפי שלנו מתמודדים עם הכפילויות בדרכים שונות. ישנם כאלו המציעים כי זהו רק כלי ספרותי בו תיאור כללי קודם לתיאור מפורט של אירוע. אחרים יותר פילוסופיים בגישתם, וטוענים כי כל תיאור מתמקד בהיבט שונה של האדם ושל העולם. הגישה האחרונה מציעה כי שני הפרקים אינם מתייחסים לאותו האירוע כלל; הראשון מתאר את בריאת העולם והאנושות בכללותה, בעוד השני מתאר את יצירתו של יחיד בשם "אדם". אילו מהגישות נראית לכם הכי משכנעת?
  • For elaboration, see Two Accounts of Creation.
  • להרחבה ראו

Rejection and Crime

In East of Eden, author J. Steinbeck speaks of the universal nature of the Kayin and Hevel story:

I think this is the best-known story in the world because it is everybody’s story. I think it is the symbol story of the human soul… The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt—and there is the story of mankind

The theme of "chosenness and rejection" repeats throughout Sefer Bereshit.  Do all of those who are rejected react in the way described by Steinbeck?  Is it possible for rejection to be used as a catalyst for positive actions rather than negative?

In the story of Kayin and Hevel, does Hashem even reject Kayin, or just his offering? What about either Kayin or his gift was displeasing to Hashem?  Finally, why does Kayin take out his anger on Hevel rather than on Hashem?  See Kayin's Sacrifice Rejected and Kayin – Intentional or Unintentional Murderer.

Technology and Morality

The enigmatic tale of Lemekh and his wives touches on many issues including guilt and the power of repentance, the downsides to polygamy, and the dangers of technological advances.

  • Which is the worse penalty – a guilty conscience or a physical punishment? See Seforno's take on this question in his analysis of Lemekh's Monologue.
  • Is there any correlation between technological advances and the morality of a society? How often does scientific progress promote ethical behavior?  How often does it lead to its deterioration? See how Ramban, HaKetav VeHakabbalah, and Cassuto address these questions in their reading of Lemekh's Monologue.

More...

For more, see: Parashat Bereshit Topics.