ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Strange Women Distributing Swords

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

ืคืจืง ื“ ends with a return to the parent-lecturing-child metaphor. Shlomo starts with the familiar theme: listen to my words, and things will go well for you:

ื› ื‘ื ื™ ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืงืฉื™ื‘ื”; ืœืืžืจื™ ื”ื˜ ืื–ื ืšืƒ
ื›ื ืืœ ื™ืœื™ื–ื• ืžืขื™ื ื™ืš; ืฉืžืจื ื‘ืชื•ืš ืœื‘ื‘ืšืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื›ื™ ื—ื™ื™ื ื”ื ืœืžืฆืื™ื”ื; ื•ืœื›ืœ ื‘ืฉืจื• ืžืจืคืืƒ
ื›ื’ ืžื›ืœ ืžืฉืžืจ ื ืฆืจ ืœื‘ืš; ื›ื™ ืžืžื ื• ืชื•ืฆืื•ืช ื—ื™ื™ืืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ืคืจืง ื“

The gemara learns a lesson about good study habits:

ืืžืจ ืœื™ื” ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”: ืฉื™ื ื ื, ืคืชื— ืคื•ืžื™ืš ืงืจื™, ืคืชื— ืคื•ืžื™ืš ืชื ื™, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื›ื™ ื“ืชืชืงื™ื™ื ื‘ื™ืš ื•ืชื•ืจื™ืš ื—ื™ื™; ืฉื ืืžืจ: ื›ึดึผื™ ื—ึทื™ึดึผื™ื ื”ึตื ืœึฐืžึนืฆึฐืึตื™ื”ึถื; ื•ึผืœึฐื›ึธืœ ื‘ึฐึผืฉึธื‚ืจื•ึน ืžึทืจึฐืคึตึผื. ืืœ ืชืงืจื™ ืœึฐืžึนืฆึฐืึตื™ื”ึถื ืืœื ืœึฐืžื•ึนืฆึดื™ืึตื™ื”ึถื ื‘ึผึทืคึผึถื”.

ืขื™ืจื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื ื“,ื

And then he turns to advice about advice that you should avoid:

ื›ื“ ื”ืกืจ ืžืžืš ืขืงืฉื•ืช ืคื”; ื•ืœื–ื•ืช ืฉืคืชื™ื ื”ืจื—ืง ืžืžืšืƒ
ื›ื” ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืœื ื›ื— ื™ื‘ื™ื˜ื•; ื•ืขืคืขืคื™ืš ื™ื™ืฉืจื• ื ื’ื“ืšืƒ
ื›ื• ืคืœืก ืžืขื’ืœ ืจื’ืœืš; ื•ื›ืœ ื“ืจื›ื™ืš ื™ื›ื ื•ืƒ
ื›ื– ืืœ ืชื˜ ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืื•ืœ; ื”ืกืจ ืจื’ืœืš ืžืจืขืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ืคืจืง ื“

ืขืงืฉื•ืช ืคื” is not talking about ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข, the warped speech that we speak. He is talking about the speech of others. You need to be careful not to be taken by smooth talkers.

ื”ืกืจ ืžืžืš ืขืงืฉื•ืช ืคื”: ืžื™ ืฉื™ืฉ ืคื” ืขืงืฉ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื–ื”ื• ื”ืจืข ื‘ื›ืœ.

โ€ฆืœื–ื•ืช ืฉืคืชื™ื: ื–ื” ืฉืคืชื™ ื—ืœืงื•ืช ืฉืžื“ื‘ืจ ืืณ ื‘ืคื” ื•ืืณ ื‘ืœื‘ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืคื™ื• ื•ืœื‘ื• ืฉื•ื™ืŸ.

ื”ืจื—ืง ืžืžืš: ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื ื’ืจื•ืข ืžืŸ ื”ืจืขโ€ฆืœื›ืŸ ืืžืจ ื”ืจื—ืง ืžืžืš ืžืื•ื“.

ื‘ื™ืื•ืจ ื”ื’ืจืดื, ืžืฉืœื™ ื“:ื›ื“

And he gives us Mishleiโ€™s mussar message number six: Eyes on the prize. ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืœื ื›ื— ื™ื‘ื™ื˜ื•; keep your ultimate goal in mind and stay focused, and ื›ืœ ื“ืจื›ื™ืš ื™ื›ื ื•, you will be able to go in a straight line. Rabbi Goldson has a nice metaphor for this metaphor (a meta-metaphor?):

In 2009, a German scientist named Jan Souman took a group of subjects out to empty parking lots and open fields, blindfolded them, and instructed them to walk in a straight line. Some of them managed to keep to a straight course for ten or twenty paces; a few lasted 50 or a hundred. But in the end, all of them wound up circling back toward their points of origin. Not many of them. Not most of them. Every last one.

โ€œAnd they have no ideaโ€, Dr. Souman told NPR. โ€œ They were thinking that they were walking in a straight line all the timeโ€โ€ฆ

So how do we hold true to our course? Dr. Souman explained what might otherwise seem obvious, a simple solution to the circular inclinations of the human compass. With external clues, like a mountaintop or other promontory on the horizon, people have no trouble at all traveling a straight line.

Yonason Goldson, Proverbial Beauty, pp. 136-137

And this is what ืฆื™ืฆื™ืช are supposed to mean:

ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื›ื ืœืฆื™ืฆืช ื•ืจืื™ืชื ืืชื• ื•ื–ื›ืจืชื ืืช ื›ืœ ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืณ ื•ืขืฉื™ืชื ืืชื; ื•ืœื ืชืชื•ืจื• ืื—ืจื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ื•ืื—ืจื™ ืขื™ื ื™ื›ื ืืฉืจ ืืชื ื–ื ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื”ืืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•:ืœื˜

ื•ืœื ืชืชื•ืจื• ืื—ืจื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื:โ€ฆื”ืœื‘ ื•ื”ืขื™ื ื™ื ื”ื ืžืจื’ืœื™ื ืœื’ื•ืฃ, ืžืกืจืกืจื™ื ืœื• ืืช ื”ืขื‘ืจื•ืช, ื”ืขื™ืŸ ืจื•ืื” ื•ื”ืœื‘ ื—ื•ืžื“ ื•ื”ื’ื•ืฃ ืขื•ืฉื” ืืช ื”ืขื‘ืจื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื•:ืœื˜

So we need to avoid the temptations of false voices and seductive sights. And that explains a strange ื‘ืจื›ื”:

ื‘ืจื•ืš ืืชื” ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ืžืœืš ื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ืžืขื‘ื™ืจ ืฉื ื” ืžืขื™ื ื™ ื•ืชื ื•ืžื” ืžืขืคืขืคื™.

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืžืœืคื ื™ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื•ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ืฉืชืจื’ื™ืœื ื• ื‘ืชื•ืจืชืš ื•ื“ื‘ืงื ื• ื‘ืžืฆื•ืชื™ืš, ื•ืืœ ืชื‘ื™ืื ื• ืœื ืœื™ื“ื™ ื—ื˜ื ื•ืœื ืœื™ื“ื™ ืขื‘ืจื” ื•ืขื•ืŸ ื•ืœื ืœื™ื“ื™ ื ืกื™ื•ืŸโ€ฆื‘ืจื•ืš ืืชื” ื”ืณ ื’ื•ืžืœ ื—ืกื“ื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ืœืขืžื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื”ืฉื—ืจ

Each part of that bracha is fine; we thank ื”ืณ for allowing us to wake, and we pray to be able to go in the path of the Torah, but why combine them into one ื‘ืจื›ื”? And this is a single ื‘ืจื›ื”:

ื›ื™ ืžืฉื™ ืืคื™ื” ืœื™ืžื ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืžืขื‘ื™ืจ ื—ื‘ืœื™ ืฉื™ื ื” ืžืขื™ื ื™ ื•ืชื ื•ืžื” ืžืขืคืขืคื™ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืžืœืคื ื™ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืฉืชืจื’ื™ืœื ื™ ื‘ืชื•ืจืชืš ื•ื“ื‘ืงื ื™ ื‘ืžืฆื•ืชื™ืšโ€ฆ

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืก,ื‘

ื•ืื•ืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ืชื ืฉื”ื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ื‘ืจื›ื” ื‘ืจื•ืš ืืชื” ื”ืณ ื”ืžืขื‘ื™ืจ ืฉื™ื ื” ืžืขื™ื ื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื•ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื•ืžืจ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ. ื•ืื ืชืืžืจ ื•ื”ืœื ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื›ื•ืœืŸ ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื•ืžืจ ื‘ื—ืชื™ืžืชืŸ ืžืขื™ืŸ ืคืชื™ื—ืชืŸ ื•ื”ื ืœื™ื›ื; ื•ื™ืดืœ ื“ืฉืคื™ืจ ื”ื•ื™ ืžืขื™ืŸ ืคืชื™ื—ื” ืกืžื•ืš ืœื—ืชื™ืžื” ืžื”ืžืขื‘ื™ืจ ื“ืกืžื•ืš ืœื—ืชื™ืžื” ืื™ื›ื ื•ืชื’ืžืœื ื™ ื—ืกื“ื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื’ืžื™ืœื•ืช ื—ืกื“ื™ื ืฉื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืžืขื‘ื™ืจ ืฉื™ื ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืื“ื ื•ืžื—ื“ืฉ ื›ื—ื•.

ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช, ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืžื•,ื

The answer is that ืžืขื‘ื™ืจ ืฉื ื” ืžืขื™ื ื™ is not about literally waking up; thatโ€™s the previous ื‘ืจื›ื” of ื”ื ื•ืชืŸ ืœื™ืขืฃ ื›ื—. This one uses Shlomoโ€™s metaphor: Thank you for allowing me to open my eyes and focus on whatโ€™s important, which is ืชืจื’ื™ืœื ื• ื‘ืชื•ืจืชืš ื•ื“ื‘ืงื ื• ื‘ืžืฆื•ืชื™ืš.

The start of ืคืจืง ื” has the same message, of being wary of smooth talkers, but uses the other metaphor, of the ืืฉื” ื–ืจื”.

ื ื‘ื ื™ ืœื—ื›ืžืชื™ ื”ืงืฉื™ื‘ื”; ืœืชื‘ื•ื ืชื™ ื”ื˜ ืื–ื ืšืƒ
ื‘ ืœืฉืžืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืช; ื•ื“ืขืช ืฉืคืชื™ืš ื™ื ืฆืจื•ืƒ
ื’ ื›ื™ ื ืคืช ืชื˜ืคื ื” ืฉืคืชื™ ื–ืจื”; ื•ื—ืœืง ืžืฉืžืŸ ื—ื›ื”ืƒ
ื“ ื•ืื—ืจื™ืชื” ืžืจื” ื›ืœืขื ื”; ื—ื“ื” ื›ื—ืจื‘ ืคื™ื•ืชืƒ
ื” ืจื’ืœื™ื” ื™ืจื“ื•ืช ืžื•ืช; ืฉืื•ืœ ืฆืขื“ื™ื” ื™ืชืžื›ื•ืƒ
ื• ืืจื— ื—ื™ื™ื ืคืŸ ืชืคืœืก; ื ืขื• ืžืขื’ืœืชื™ื” ืœื ืชื“ืขืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ืคืจืง ื”

You need ืœืฉืžืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืช: to maintain your mindfulness (what doctors call a โ€œhigh index of suspicionโ€) about what you hear outside the walls of the yeshiva. The ื–ืจื” is the opposite of the ื—ื›ื of the previous perek: ืคืœืก ืžืขื’ืœ ืจื’ืœืš; ื•ื›ืœ ื“ืจื›ื™ืš ื™ื›ื ื•. She avoid weighing her path and therefore wanders without thinking.

ืžืืฉื” ื–ืจื”: ืžื›ื ืกื™ื” ืฉืœ ืืคื™ืงื•ืจืกื•ืช ื•ื”ื™ื ื”ืžื™ื ื•ืช.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžืฉืœื™ ื‘:ื˜ื–

Dr. Lisa Fredman (who has a Ph.D. in Rashi) makes an interesting point about Rashiโ€™s use of the word ืžื™ื ื•ืชโ€”heresy. She spoke at the 2013 ื™ืžื™ ืขื™ื•ืŸ ื‘ืชื ืดืš about Rashi Encounters the Christian World in his Commentary to Mishlei. Rashi seems very concerned about Christian proselyting.

Our text of Rashiโ€™s commentary about ืžื™ื ื™ืŸ is pretty bland:

ื”ืžื™ื ื™ืŸ: ืขื›ื•ืดื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื™ื‘,ื

But that is the censored version; the real one is more direct:

ืืš ื”ืžืงื•ืจ ื”ื™ื” ื›ืชื•ื‘: โ€ื”ืžื™ื ื™ืŸ: ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉื•โ€œ.

ื“ืดื” ืžื™ื ื•ืช, ื›ืชื‘ ืจืฉืดื™ (ื”ืžื™ืœื™ื ื”ืžื•ื“ื’ืฉื•ืช ื”ื•ืฉืžื˜ื• ืขืดื™ ื”ืฆื ื–ื•ืจื”): โ€ืžื™ื ื•ืชโ€”ืื•ืชื ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉื• ื”ื ื•ืฆืจื™ ื”ื”ื•ืคื›ื™ื ื˜ืขืžื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœืžื“ืจืฉ ื˜ืขื•ืช ื•ืืœื™ืœ. ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™ื“:ื) ืึธืžึทืจ ื ึธื‘ึธืœ ื‘ึฐึผืœึดื‘ึผื•ึน ืึตื™ืŸ ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื; ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœืš ื ื‘ืœ ืžืŸ ื”ื”ื•ืคืš ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื—ื™ื™ืโ€œ.

ื•ื™ืงื™ืฉื™ื‘ื”, ืฆื ื–ื•ืจื”, ื”ืขืจื” 16

ื•ื–ื” ื™ืคืœื ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื”ื ื“ืจืฉืดื™ ืžืคืจืฉ ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ืกื•ืฃ ืกื•ื˜ื” [ืกื•ื˜ื” ืžื˜,ื‘] โ€ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืชื”ืคืš ืœืžื™ื ื•ืชโ€œ: โ€ืžื™ืŸโ€œ ืจืืฉื™ ืชื‘ื•ืช ืžืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉื• ื ื•ืฆืจื™ (ื•ื ื—ืกืจ ื‘ืฉืดืก ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื• ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ื‘ืงื•ืจืช ื‘ืžื“ื™ื ื•ืช ืื—ืจื•ืชโ€ฆ).

ื”ืžื ื—ืช ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืžืžื•ื ืงื˜ืฉ, ืžื•ื‘ื ื‘ึพืืคื™ืงื•ืจืกื™ื ื ืงืจืื• ืžื™ื ื™ื- ืœืžื”?

And that seems to be Rashiโ€™s focus here in ืกืคืจ ืžืฉืœื™. Too many people are naรฏve, ืคืชื™ื. We pointed out in Middle of the Road that ืืžื•ื ื” ืคืฉื•ื˜ื” is not necessarily a bad thing, but we need (ืžืฉืœื™ ื:ื“)โ€Ž ืœืชืช ืœืคืชืื™ื ืขืจืžื”; they need some sophistication, some cynicism.

ืคืชื™ื: ื”ืžืชืคืชื™ื ืขืดื™ ืžืกื™ืชื™ื ื•ืžื™ื ื™ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžืฉืœื™ ื:ื›ื‘

There is an old joke:

Three Jews who had recently converted to Christianity were having a drink together in a posh restaurant. They started talking about the reasons for their conversions.

โ€œI converted out of love,โ€ said the first. โ€œNot for Christianity, but for a Christian girl. As you both know, my wife insisted that I convert.โ€

โ€œAnd I,โ€ said the second, โ€œI converted in order to rise in the legal system. You probably know that my recent appointment as a federal judge may have had something to do with my new religion.โ€

The third man spoke up: โ€œI converted because I think that the teachings of Christianity are superior to those of Judaism.โ€

โ€œAre you kidding?โ€ said the first man, spitting out his drink. โ€œWhat do you take us for, a couple of goyim?โ€

My Jewish Learning, Jewish Jokes

But itโ€™s not true. Christian polemics can be very convincing. One famous example was the chief rabbi of Rome from 1940 to 1945, who converted to Catholicism.

In his autobiography, Before the Dawn: Autobiographical Reflections by Eugenio Zolli, Former Chief Rabbi of Rome, Zolli said that while presiding over the religious service in the synagogue on the holy day of Yom Kippur in 1944, he experienced a vision of Jesus. Within his heart, he says, he found the words โ€œYou are here for the last timeโ€โ€ฆ

After his conversion, Zolli was asked in an interview why he had โ€œgiven up the Synagogue for the Church.โ€ Zolli responded saying, โ€œBut I have not given it up. Christianity is the completion or crown of the Synagogue. For, the Synagogue was a promise, and Christianity is the fulfillment of that promise. The Synagogue pointed to Christianity: Christianity presupposes the Synagogue. So you see, one cannot exist without the other. What I converted to was the living Christianity.โ€

Wikipedia, Israel Zolli

And of course, the danger of learning from other religions was a trap that Shlomo himself fell into:

ื ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ืื”ื‘ ื ืฉื™ื ื ื›ืจื™ื•ืช ืจื‘ื•ืช ื•ืืช ื‘ืช ืคืจืขื”; ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื•ืช ืขืžื ื™ื•ืช ืื“ืžื™ืช ืฆื“ื ื™ืช ื—ืชื™ืชืƒ ื‘ ืžืŸ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื ืชื‘ืื• ื‘ื”ื ื•ื”ื ืœื ื™ื‘ืื• ื‘ื›ื ืื›ืŸ ื™ื˜ื• ืืช ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ืื—ืจื™ ืืœื”ื™ื”ื ื‘ื”ื ื“ื‘ืง ืฉืœืžื” ืœืื”ื‘ื”ืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื• ื ืฉื™ื ืฉืจื•ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ื•ืคืœื’ืฉื™ื ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช; ื•ื™ื˜ื• ื ืฉื™ื• ืืช ืœื‘ื•ืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœืขืช ื–ืงื ืช ืฉืœืžื” ื ืฉื™ื• ื”ื˜ื• ืืช ืœื‘ื‘ื• ืื—ืจื™ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื; ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ื‘ื• ืฉืœื ืขื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื• ื›ืœื‘ื‘ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•ืƒ ื” ื•ื™ืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ืื—ืจื™ ืขืฉืชืจืช ืืœื”ื™ ืฆื“ื ื™ื; ื•ืื—ืจื™ ืžืœื›ื ืฉืงืฅ ืขืžื ื™ืืƒ ื• ื•ื™ืขืฉ ืฉืœืžื” ื”ืจืข ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ืœื ืžืœื ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™ื

While the seduction of his wives certainly played a part in his failure, ืœื ืžืœื ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืณ, I have to believe that โ€œthe wisest of all menโ€ thought about all the religious implications of ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” and convinced himself that pantheism isnโ€™t incompatible with Torah. The metaphor of the ื ืคืช ืชื˜ืคื ื” ืฉืคืชื™ ื–ืจื” merged with the literal meaning of ืื”ื‘ ื ืฉื™ื ื ื›ืจื™ื•ืช ืจื‘ื•ืช.

But we canโ€™t just reject the ืืฉื” ื–ืจื”. Her words are ื—ื“ื” ื›ื—ืจื‘ ืคื™ื•ืช, a double-edged sword. It is an important tool but too easily can cut its wielder. The ื—ืกื™ื“ื™ื hold that double-edged sword:

ื” ื™ืขืœื–ื• ื—ืกื™ื“ื™ื ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“; ื™ืจื ื ื• ืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื•ืชืืƒ ื• ืจื•ืžืžื•ืช ืึพืœ ื‘ื’ืจื•ื ื; ื•ื—ืจื‘ ืคื™ืคื™ื•ืช ื‘ื™ื“ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื˜

We have to acknowledge that other cultures may have things to teach us.

ืื ื™ืืžืจ ืœืš ืื“ื ื™ืฉ ื—ื›ืžื” ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ืชืืžืŸโ€ฆื™ืฉ ืชื•ืจื” ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ืืœ ืชืืžืŸ.

ืื™ื›ื” ืจื‘ื” ื‘:ื™ื’

There are opinions that those things may be too dangerous to handle.

ื›ื™ ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™ื ื•ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ื ืื™ื ืŸ ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ืื—ืช. ื›ื™ ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื”ื™ื ืงื‘ืœื” ืœืžืฉื” ืžืกื™ื ื™, ื•ื”ื—ื›ื ื™ื“ืจื•ืฉ ื‘ื” ื‘ืžื“ื•ืช ืฉื ืชื ื” ืœื™ื“ืจืฉ ื‘ื”ื, ื•ืžื“ืžื” ืžื™ืœืชื ืœืžื™ืœืชื; ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื ืžืฉื›ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ื˜ื‘ืข, ืื ื• ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ืŸ ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ืงื‘ืœื”. ืื‘ืœ ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™ื ื”ื™ื ื˜ื‘ืขื™ืช, ื•ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื”ื™ื• ื•ื”ืขืžื™ื“ื• ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื˜ื‘ืขื•, ื•ืžืจื•ื‘ ื—ื›ืžืชื ื”ืขืžื™ืงื• ืฉื—ืชื• ื•ื”ื•ืฆืจื›ื• ืœื›ืคื•ืจ ื‘ืชื•ืจืช ืžืฉื”, ืœืคื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื˜ื‘ืขื™ืช, ืืœื ืงื‘ืœื”. ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื—:ื™ื’): ืชึธึผืžึดื™ื ืชึดึผื”ึฐื™ึถื” ืขึดื ื”ืณ ื•ื’ื•ืณ; ื›ืœื•ืžืจ: ืืคื™ืœื• ื™ืฆื ืœืš ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื—ื•ืฅ ืžืŸ ื”ื˜ื‘ืข, ืืœ ืชื”ืจื”ืจ ืขืœ ื”ืงื‘ืœื”, ืืœื ื‘ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช ื”ืชื”ืœืš ืœืคื ื™ื•.

ืœื›ืŸ ืื™ืŸ ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ืจืื™ื” ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื, ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืื•ืช ื•ืžื•ืคืช ื•ื’ื–ืจื•ืช ื•ืžืฉืœื™ื ืขืœ ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ืฉืจื™ื. ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ืืžืจ ื”ื—ื›ื (ืžืฉืœื™ ื‘:ื™ื˜): ื›ึธึผืœ ื‘ึธึผืึถื™ื”ึธ ืœึนื ื™ึฐืฉืื•ึผื‘ื•ึผืŸ, ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื ื•ื ื›ื ืก ืžืชื—ืœื” ื‘ื—ื›ืžื” ื–ื•, ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœืฆืืช ืžืžื ื” ืœื”ื›ื ืก ื‘ืœื‘ื• ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœืฉื•ื‘ ืžื—ื›ืžื” ื˜ื‘ืขื™ืช ืฉื”ื•ืจื’ืœ ื‘ื”, ื›ื™ ืœื‘ื• ืชืžื™ื“ ื ืžืฉืš ืื—ืจื™ื”. ื•ืžื—ืžืช ื–ื” ืœื ื™ืฉื™ื’ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืขืœ ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ืฉื”ื™ื ืืจื—ื•ืช ื—ื™ื™ื, ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ื• ืชืžื™ื“ ืขืœ ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ื˜ื‘ืข, ื•ืชืขืœื” ื‘ืจื•ื—ื• ืœื”ืฉื•ื•ืช ืฉืชื™ ื”ื—ื›ืžื•ืช ื™ื—ื“, ื•ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ืจืื™ื” ืžื–ื• ืœื–ื•, ื•ืžืชื•ืš ื–ื” ื™ืขื•ืช ื”ืžืฉืคื˜; ื›ื™ ืฉื ื™ ื”ืคื›ื™ื ื”ื, ืฆืจื•ืช ื–ื• ืœื–ื•, ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื›ื ื• ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืื—ื“.

ืจืืดืฉ ื›ืœืœ ื ื” ืกื™ืžืŸ ื˜

And Rav Soloveitchik was famously opposed to any religious discussions with other faiths.

In the secular sphere, we may discuss positions to be taken, ideas to be evolved, and plans to be formulated. In these matters, religious communities may together recommend action to be developedโ€ฆHowever, our joint engagement in this kind of enterprise must not dull our sense of identity as a faith communityโ€ฆ[I]f the debate should revolve around matters of faith, then one of the confronters will be impelled to avail himself of the language of his opponent. This itself would mean surrender of individuality and distinctiveness.

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Confrontation, p. 24

On the other hand, as we saw in The Widening Gyre, (ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื“:ื)โ€Ž ืื™ื–ื”ื• ื—ื›ื, ื”ืœื•ืžื“ ืžื›ืœ ืื“ื.

ื•ืื ื™ืžืฆื ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื’ื•ืŸ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ื”ืžื—ื–ื™ืง ื”ืืžื•ื ื”โ€”ื™ืงื‘ืœโ€ฆื•ื‘ื–ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ื–ื”ื™ืจ ื•ื–ืจื™ื– ื‘ื›ืœ ื ืคืฉื• ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื“ื‘ืจ ืืžืช, ืฉืœื›ืš ืื‘ื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื ืฆื™ื•ื• ื‘ื’ื•ื“ืœ ื”ืื–ื”ืจื” (ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื‘:ื™ื“) ื”ึฑื•ึตื™ ืฉึธืืงื•ึผื“ ืœึดืœึฐืžื•ึนื“ ืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”, ื•ึฐื“ึทืข ืžึทื” ืฉึถึผืืชึธึผืฉึดืื™ื‘ ืœึธืึทืคึดึผื™ืงื•ึนืจื•ึนืกโ€ฆื•ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื ืืžืจ ืจืง ืขืœ ืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™ ื™ื•ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื• ื—ื•ืงืจื™ื ืžื“ืขืชื ื•ืžืฉื›ืœื ื•ืฉืืœืชื ื—ืงื™ืจืช ืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™, ื•ืœื›ืš ืืžืจ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉืงื•ื“, ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื–ืจื™ื–ื•ืช ื™ืชื™ืจื” ื•ืขื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื›ืœื™, ืœื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื“ืช ืืžืช. ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉื›ืจื• ืขื ื”ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ื‘ื’ืŸ ืขื“ืŸ ืืžืŸ ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ.

ืžื”ืจืดืœ, ื ืชื™ื‘ื•ืช ืขื•ืœื, ื ืชื™ื‘ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื™ื“

ืžื” ืื ื—ื ื• ืœืžื“ื™ื ืžื–ื”? ืื ื—ื ื• ืœืžื“ื™ื ืื™ืš ืขืœื™ื ื• ืœื ื”ื•ื’ ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืื ื• ื ื–ืงืงื™ื ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืืช ื”ืฉืืœื•ืช ืฉืœ ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื•ื”ื—ื•ืœ. ืœืคื™ ื”ื ื”ื•ื’ ื‘ืขื•ืœื, ื—ื•ืฉื‘ ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœืช ืžื—ืฉื‘ืชื•, ืฉื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื•ื”ื—ื•ืœ ื”ื ื‘ื‘ื—ื™ื ืช โ€ื•ื™ืชืจื•ืฆืฆื•โ€œ, ืฉื”ื ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืฆื•ืจืจื™ื ื–ื” ืืช ื–ื”. ืื•ืœื ื”ืืžืช ื”ื™ื, ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ื ื™ื’ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื•ื”ื—ื•ืœโ€ฆื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืื ื—ื ื• ื‘ืื™ื ืœืกื’ื ืŸ ืืช ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ืœืชืช ืœื—ื™ื™ื ืฆื•ืจื” ื—ื™ืฆื•ื ื™ืช, ืื ื—ื ื• ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืฉื›ืฉื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืื ื• ื ืขืœื‘ื™ื ืžื–ื” ืฉื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื ื™ื’ืฉ ืฉืœืžื” ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื”ื•ื ืฉืœื— ืœืžืœืš ื—ื™ืจื ื‘ืงืฉื” ืœืชืชืœื• ืื ืฉื™ื ืœื›ืจื•ืช ื‘ืขื“ื• ืขืฆื™ื (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื”:ื›): ื›ึผึดื™ ืึทืชึผึธื” ื™ึธื“ึทืขึฐืชึผึธ ื›ึผึดื™ ืึตื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึธื ื•ึผ ืึดื™ืฉื ื™ึนื“ึตืขึท ืœึดื›ึฐืจื‡ืช ืขึตืฆึดื™ื ื›ึผึทืฆึผึดื“ึนื ึดื™ื, ื›ืš ืœื ื ึตืขืœื‘ ืื ื ืฆื˜ืจืš ืœื”ืฉืชืžืฉ ื‘ืขื–ืจืช ื›ื•ื—ื•ืช ื—ื•ืฅ ื‘ื”ื›ื ืช ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ื”ื—ื™ืฆื•ื ื™ืช ืœื—ื™ื™ื. ืฆื™ื“ื•ื ื™ื ื›ืจืชื• ืขืฆื™ื ,ื•ื’ื ื’ืจื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ื‘ืืจืฅ ื”ื™ื• ืžืกืชืชื™ื ืืช ื”ืื‘ื ื™ื. ืื‘ืœ ืขืฆื ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื ืฉืืจื” ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื ื•, ื•ื™ื“ืขื ื• ืœืฉืžื•ืจ ืืช ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ. ื”ื™ื•ื•ื ื•ืช ื‘ืชื•ืจ ื—ื›ืžื” ื”ื™ื ื”ื›ื—ืฉืช ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ, ื—ื™ืœื•ืœ ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ. (ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื’:ื™ื) โ€ื”ืžื—ืœืœ ืืช ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉื™ืโ€œโ€”ื”ื“ื’ื™ืฉื• ื”ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ืโ€”โ€ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื—ืœืง ื‘ืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ืโ€œ.(ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืฆื‘,ื) โ€ืงื“ื•ืฉ ืœืขื•ืœื ืงื™ื™ืโ€œ. ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืฉื•ืื‘ื™ื ืืช ื›ื— ื—ื™ื™ื ื• ื”ืœืื•ืžื™ื™ื ืžืื•ืชื• ื”ืžืงื•ืจ ื”ื ืฆื—ื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื‘ืœื•ืช ืขื•ืœืžื™ื, ื–ืžื ื™ื ื ืฆื—ื™ื™ื ื•ืœื ืจืง ื“ื•ืจื•ืช, ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ืฉืืจ ืœื ื• ืœืขื•ืœืžื™ื ืžืงื•ืจ ื‘ืœืชื™ ื ืฉืื‘.

ื”ืจืื™ืดื” ืงื•ืง, ืžืืžืจื™ ื”ืจืื™ืดื” ื—ืดื‘ ืขืžืณ 4

So is learning โ€œืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™ืโ€ a good thing or a bad thing? Yes. What do I do with this strange woman with a double edged sword?

Strange womenโ€ฆdistributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

Dennis the peasant, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Thereโ€™s no simple answer. Be careful. ื—ื–ืดืœ talk about translating the Torah into Greek, the language of ืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™ ื™ื•ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื• ื—ื•ืงืจื™ื ืžื“ืขืชื ื•ืžืฉื›ืœื.

ืžืขืฉื” ื‘ื”ืณ ื–ืงื ื™ื ืฉื›ืชื‘ื• ืœืชืœืžื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื™ื•ื ื™ืช ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ื™ื•ื ืงืฉื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื™ื•ื ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื”ืขื’ืœ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื™ื›ื•ืœื” ืœื”ืชืจื’ื ื›ืœ ืฆืจื›ื”.

ืžืกื›ืช ืกื•ืคืจื™ื ื:ื–

ื‘ื—ืณ ื‘ื˜ื‘ืช ื ื›ืชื‘ื” ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื™ื•ื ื™ืช ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืชืœืžื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื”ื—ื•ืฉืš ื‘ื ืœืขื•ืœื ืฉืœืฉืช ื™ืžื™ืโ€ฆ ื‘ื™ืณ ื‘ื• ืกืžืš ืžืœืš ื‘ื‘ืœ ืืช ื™ื“ื• ืขืœ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ืœื”ื—ืจื™ื‘ื”.

ืžื’ื™ืœืช ืชืขื ื™ืช, ืื“ืจ ื›

The Lubavitch Rebbe asks, why was putting the Torah into Greek terms likened to โ€œthe day the Golden Calf was madeโ€?

ื”ืชืžื™ื”ื” ื”ืขืงืจื™ืช ื”ื™ื ื‘ื›ืš ืฉื‘ื‘ืจื™ื™ืชื ื”ืžื•ื‘ื ืœืขื™ืœ ืžืžืกื›ืช ืกื•ืคืจื™ื ื ืืžืจ โ€ื”ื™ื” ื”ื™ื•ื ืงืฉื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื™ื•ื ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื”ืขื’ืœโ€œ; ื›ื™ืฆื“ ื™ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื•ืžืจ, ืฉืžืฉื•ื ืฉื”ืชื•ืจื” ืื™ื ื” ื™ื›ื•ืœื” ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืžืชื•ืจื’ืžืช โ€ื›ืœ ืฆืจื›ื”โ€œ, ื”ืจื™ ื–ื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืงืฉื” ื•ืฉืœื™ืœื™ ื›ืœ ื›ืš, ืขื“ ืฉื”ื•ื ื“ื•ืžื” ืœื™ื•ื ืขืฉื™ื™ืช ื”ืขื’ืœ?โ€ฆ

ื‘ืคืฉื˜ื•ืช ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ื ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืœืขื’ืœ ืœืžื—ืจืช ื™ื•ื ืขืฉื™ื™ืช ื”ืขื’ืœโ€ฆ

ื•ื”ืžืฉืžืขื•ืช ืฉืœ โ€ืงืฉื” ื›ื™ื•ื ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื”ืขื’ืœโ€œ ื”ื™ื: ื”ืงื•ืฉื™ ืื™ื ื• ื›ืœ ื›ืš ื‘ืขืชื ืขืฉื™ื™ืช ื”ืขื’ืœโ€ฆืืœื, ื”ืงื•ืฉื™ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื›ืš ืฉื–ื”ื• โ€ื™ื•ื ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื‘ื• ื”ืขื’ืœโ€œโ€ฆื™ื•ื ืฉืœ ื”ื›ื ื” ืœื—ื˜ืโ€ฆ

ื›ืš ื’ื ื”ื™ื•ื ืฉื‘ื• ืชื•ืจื’ืžื” ืฉืชื•ืจื” ืœื™ื•ื ื™ืช ื”ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืงืฉื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืขืœื•ืœ ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ืœื™ื“ื™ ื”ื‘ื ืช ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืฉืœื ื›ืจืื•ื™, ื•ืœื”ื™ืคืš ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื”ืืžื™ืชื™ืชโ€ฆ

ืœืงื•ื˜ื™ ืฉื™ื—ื•ืช ื›ื“, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื

Making the ืขื’ืœ wasnโ€™t automatically a problem. It could have been re-purposed into a symbol of the ืžืจื›ื‘ื” that carries the ืฉื›ื™ื ื”โ€Ž (ื•ืื›ืžืดืœ). But it was a very dangerous day that had the potential to (and in the end, did) end very badly.

Learning ื—ื›ืžื” ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื is just as risky. We do it, because our intellectual curiosity pushes us to learn every thing, but we need to be aware of the risks.