Role of Tradition in Jewish Exegesis

R. Eliezer says: If they had not brought the circumcision knife on the eve of Sabbath it may be brought openly on the Sabbath; and in time of danger a man may cover it up in the presence of witnesses. R. Eliezer said moreover: They may cut wood [on the Sabbath] to make charcoal in order to forge an iron implement. R. Akiba laid down a general rule: Any act of work that can be done on the eve of Sabbath does not override the Sabbath, but what cannot be done on the eve of the Sabbath overrides the Sabbath.

Shabbat: 19

Jewish Hermeneutics

R. Simeon says, “He who is going along the way and repeating [his Torah tradition] but interrupts his repetition and says, ‘How beautiful is that tree! How beautiful is that ploughed field!’—Scripture reckons it to him as if he has become liable for his life.”

Abot, 3:7, C

Application

He would say, “Anyone whose deeds are more than his wisdom—his wisdom will endure. And anyone whose wisdom is more than his deeds—his wisdom will not endure.

Abot 3:9, II

Jewish Hermeneutics

R. Eleazar Hisma says, “The laws of bird offerings and the beginning of a woman’s menstruation period—they are indeed the essentials of the Torah. Calculations of the equinoxes and reckoning the numerical value of letters are the savories of wisdom.

Abot, 3:18

Jewish Hermeneutics

R. Aqiba says, “Laughter and lightheadedness turn lewdness into a habit. Tradition is a fence for the Torah. Tithes are a fence for wealth. Vows are a fence for abstinence. A fence for wisdom is silence.”

Abot, 3:13

Application

R. Ishmael, his son, says, “He who learns so as to teach—they give him a chance to learn and to teach. He who learns so as to carry out his teachings—they give him a chance to learn, to teach, to keep, and to do.” R. Sadoq says, “Do not make [Torah teachings] a crown with which to glorify yourself or a spade with which to dig. (So did Hillel say [M. 1:13], “He who uses the crown perishes.”) “Thus have you learned: Whoever derives worldly benefit from teachings of Torah takes his life out of this world.”

Abot 4:5

Humility

R. Levitas of Yabneh says, “Be exceedingly humble, for the hope of humanity is the worm.”

Abot 4:4, A.

Application

There are four sorts among those who go to the study house: he who goes but does not carry out [what he learns]—he has at least the reward for the going. He who practices but does not go [to study]—he has at least the reward for the doing. He who both goes and practices—he is truly pious. He who neither goes nor practices—he is truly wicked.

Abot 5:14 V

Attitude of the Reader

There are four traits among those who sit before the sages: a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sifter. A sponge—because he sponges everything up; a funnel—because he takes in on one side and lets out on the other; a strainer—for he lets out the wine and keeps in the lees; and a sifter—for he lets out the flour and keeps in the finest flour.

Abot 5:15

Jewish Hermeneutics

On the appeal to tradition:
R. Eliezer says: If they had not brought the circumcision knife on the eve of Sabbath it may be brought openly on the Sabbath; and in time of danger a man may cover it up in the presence of witnesses. R. Eliezer said moreover: They may cut wood [on the Sabbath] to make charcoal in order to forge an iron implement. R. Akiba laid down a general rule: Any act of work that can be done on the eve of Sabbath does not override the Sabbath, but what cannot be done on the eve of the Sabbath overrides the Sabbath.

Shabbath 19.1 in William Klein, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Dallas: Word, 1993), 24.

Jewish Hermeneutics

When do we learn of a garden-bed, six hand breadths spare, that five kinds of seed may be sown therein, four on the sides and one in the middle? Because it is written, For as the earth bringeth forth her bud and as the barden causeth the seeds sown in it to spring forth [Is. 61:11]. It is not written Its seed, but the seeds sown in it. R. Judah said: “The earth bringeth forth her bud”; “bringeth forth”—one; “her bud”—one; making two. “Seeds sown” means (at least) two more; making four; “causeth to spring forth”—one; making five in all.

Shabbath 9.2 in William Klein, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Dallas: Word, 1993), 25.

Jewish Hermeneutics

On the appeal to literalism:
If either of them was maimed in the hand, or lame or dumb or blind or deaf, he cannot be condemned as a stubborn and rebellious son, for it is written, The shall his faith and his mother lay hold on him – so they were not maimed in the hand; and bring him out – so they were not lame; and they shall say – so they were not dumb; this is our son – so they were not blind; he will not obey our voice – so they were not deaf.

Sanhedrin 8.4 in William Klein, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Dallas: Word, 1993), 24.

Something to Remember at Christmas

The Mishnah states: "The father comes before (over) the mother under all circumstances, because both he and his mother are liable to pay honor to his father. And so with respect to study of Torah: If the son acquired merit [by sitting and studying] before the master, the master takes precedence over the father under all circumstances, because both he and his father are liable to pay honor to his master." Keritot 6.9