Avot187
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BET MIDRASH VIRTUALI
of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
RABIN MISHNAH STUDY GROUP
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TRACTATE AVOT, CHAPTER THREE, MISHNAH THIRTEEN:
Rabbi Yishma'el says: be swift for the headman and easy for the press-gang; and receive everyone in joy.
EXPLANATIONS:
1:
Rabbi Yishma'el is one of the more important of the sages of the Tannaïtic period. Unfortunately, people generally know less about his biography than some of the more popular figures – especially his great friend and rival, Rabbi Akiva. 2:
"by the [sacred] garments worn by my [grand]father and by the headband [tzitz] which he set between his eyes."
This seems to establish that he was the grandson of another Yishma'el ben-Elisha, who was one of the last of the high priests. Despite legends that he died a martyr's death during the Hadrianic persecutions which followed the Bar-Kokhba revolt there are more reliable indications that he died before the outbreak of that revolt in the year 132 CE.
3: When the Romans vanquished the Jews and destroyed the Bet Mikdash he was still very young. He was among many thousands who were captured by the Romans and sent as prisoners of war to Rome. There he was incarcerated pending his sale as a slave. Luckily, Rabbi Yehoshu'a came to Rome as part of a delegation and he was told that there was a most wondrous youngster among those being held in prison,
with beautiful eyes, handsome, and with a head of curls. He went and stood at the entrance of the prison and called out [the first part of a biblical verse, Isaiah 42:24]: "Who was it gave Jacob over to despoilment and Israel to plunderers?" [From inside the prison] that youngster called out [the rest of the verse]: "Surely, God against whom we sinned and in whose ways they would not walk and whose Torah they would not obey." He [Yehoshu'a] said to himself, "I am certain that he will become a great authority in Israel. [I swear] by the [Temple] ritual! I shall not go from here without redeeming him for whatever money they ask for him."
The Gemara [Gittin 58a] adds that he did pay a lot of money to buy that youngster who grew up to become Rabbi Yishma'el.
To be continued. DISCUSSION:
In Avot 179 I mentioned the fact that Rambam abolished the silent Amidah on Shabbat and YomTov and in Avot 184 David Fields suggested that in many Conservative synagogues it would be profitable to follow that example. Ed Frankel now supports that suggestion:
As an educator, I did not believe in many cases that my students had the stamina nor wherewithal to recite the silent amida. Many could barely read through it in an appropriate period of time. Others, not particularly motivated to do it, would just go through the motions. I would not be surprised to find the same sentiments among adults. For me, though, the heicha kedusha [partial repetition] is hardly a response. The entire amidah is important, and needs to be addressed. Furthermore, it is my strong belief that one learns from doing. Habits need not be for a good reason initially for us to develop good reasons later. Thus, when with students, often rather than doing a repetition, I will have the entire amida chanted communally, aloud. Wonder if this would work better with adults as well, and if perhaps this was Rambam's method. However, Marc Auslander does not agree with Derek and Ed: I think this need not be so. I am not able to daven [pray] the silent Amidah in Hebrew – but I am in English. I read it and think about it and find this to be one of the important moments of the service. In my opinion, Rabbis should be encouraging congregants to use this approach, rather than standing around waiting for the others to finish. The repetition allows me to "redo" the Amidah in Hebrew with the help of the leader. But if I had to give up one, I'd certainly give up the repetition I don't understand in favor of the silent prayer I do understand. I comment: The repetition of the Amidah is a requirement of the sages that may not be dispensed with. For further details see Rosh ha-Shanah 4:9 and skip to explanation #10. BMV Home | The shiurim of the Rabin Mishnah Study Group are usually sent out on Monday and Thursday; These shiurim are and will remain free of charge. |
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