tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post6897129943132808436..comments2024-03-20T06:29:27.167-04:00Comments on The Rabbi with a Blog (Rabbi Jason Miller): Case of Mistaken Identity for GoodRabbi Jason Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-53795368565333116732013-10-16T15:34:12.341-04:002013-10-16T15:34:12.341-04:00Sheri, the story is a bit more nuanced and complex...Sheri, the story is a bit more nuanced and complex than most people realize. In fact, Jason, while the story you tell of is, indeed, wonderful, and opposite of the talmudic story in several ways, i'm afraid you're a bit liberal in your paraphrasing (nowhere does the Talmud tell us Bar Kamtza's motivation for requesting to stay, and your presumption of his intention strongly skews the story), revealing a prejudice toward a popular understanding of the story. I highly recommend rereading the entire passage, including the other two stories in the trilogy of which it is a part, and always in light of Rabbi Yohanan's introduction and conclusion. Also, pay attention to which evaluations are Rabbi Yohanan's as opposed to those made by characters in the story. Evaluations made by characters in the story must be assessed for reliability in light of their character as revealed by their actions. In short, Sheri, there is certainly at least one lesson in the story, and it's well worth delving in to mine it, being wary of accepting the popular understanding too readily. I threw out some major hints how to do it. Have fun.<br />Rabbi Raphael Friedman, Ramat Yishai and Hoshaya, IsraelRaphihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14807768466050010239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-57599943420865461372013-10-15T17:34:55.938-04:002013-10-15T17:34:55.938-04:00So what was the lesson learned from the Talmudic s...So what was the lesson learned from the Talmudic story? I'm disappointed if there's not a good lesson to go with the story. Sheri Brownnoreply@blogger.com