Thursday, October 21, 2010

Around the horn

Some noteworthy posts from around the blogs:

Should Judaism excommunicate a woman who appears on TV in a bathing suit? This appears to be the view of some of the visitors to Fink or Swim. The issue is Esther Petrack, the OJ high School graduate who is now a contestant on America’s Next Top Model. In her first appearance, Esther flashed her bra, was filmed in a bikini, and appeared to state that she'd violate Shabbos for a chance at winning the competition. Like E-Fink, who hosts Fink or Swim, and disagrees with the anti-Esther comments, I don't see why everyone is so upset. Jews violate halacha all the time. You're entitled to disagree with Esther's choices, and criticism of her behavior is legitimate but don't throw her under the bus. She's still a member in good standing of the Jewish people.

After the angle interrupted Abraham's attempt to slaughter his son, did the patriarch see one ram, or a ram behind or afterwards? Those who've memorized this blog may recall a short post, and long discussion from last year about Gen 22:13 which reads וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּה־אַ֔יִל אַחַ֕ר נֶאֱחַ֥ז בַּסְּבַ֖ךְ בְּקַרְנָ֑יו וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אַבְרָהָם֙ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־הָאַ֔יִל וַיַּעֲלֵ֥הוּ לְעֹלָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת בְּנֹֽו׃. As most of the world must know by now, three ancient texts have the word echad/ one, where the M.T has Achar / after or behind. Now, the very great Josh of ParshaBlog has contributed a very, very long discussion of many different sources after which he reaches the same conclusion we did last year, i.e., that this a legitimate issue, with solid evidence on both sides (though, he thinks the evidence is stronger in favor of the M.T., while I say the evidence is inconclusive.)




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