Yibum

Found 12 Search results

  1. Yehuda and Tamar

    Rabbi David Silber

    תאריך פרסום: תשעב | |

    We examine the story of Yehuda and Tamar, looking for linguistic hints from the names and symbolism of items mentioned in the narrative. Though seemingly unrelated to the “Yosef” stories which bracket it, the “Yehuda and Tamar” story reverberates with echoes from the preceding chapters. Tamar teaches Yehuda a transformative lesson that will shape his leadership in the following stories involving his interaction with his brothers.

  2. A Matter of Law: Elimelekh's Field

    Dr. Yael Ziegler

    Boaz convenes a public transaction at the gate of the city. Naomi's field might have been sold before leaving for Moav or upon her return. It appears that her land is being sold at the present time. Boaz makes a questionable link between the sale of the field to the marriage to Ruth.

  3. Perpetuating the Name: The Levirate Marriage

    Dr. Yael Ziegler

    While no legal link exists, Boaz links the buying of the land to the marriage of Ruth in order to maintain the name of the deceased – by producing a child who will inherit the land. The end of the book of Judges is full of nameless characters. Boaz maintaining names sends the Nation to its Davidic destiny. 

  4. Levirate Marriage in Megillat Ruth

    Dr. Yael Ziegler

    Ruth and Boaz's union is not a Levirate Marriage, but Levirate Marriages are alluded to many times and share a common theme to Boaz's redemption of Ruth. The union, at a great personal cost, establishes an heir for the deceased and cares for a widow who due to her Moavite ancestry is deemed commonly as unsuitable. 

  5. Megillat Ruth - Structure and Overview

    Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss

    The Book of Ruth describes the transition from starvation and death, described in the first five verses of the book, to the hope and redemption of the final five verses describing the generations leading to the birth of David, King of Israel. The main theme of the storyline is driven by acts of hessed (kindness), leading toward redemption performed by the antagonists of the story. 

  6. Tanakh and Literature of the Ancient Near East

    Part 1 - The Torah and Legal Systems of the Ancient Near East

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    The discoveries in the study of the Ancient Near East, that included certain similarities between the laws of the Torah and other legal systems among the nations of the Ancient Near East, produced two opposite reactions. Some viewed these data as confirmation of the validity of the biblical account and a blow to Biblical Criticism. Others claimed that if the laws of the Torah were in fact based on these other laws, it offers support for the view that the Torah laws are of human origin. However, the existence of systems of law that preceded the Torah is a fact that the Torah itself mentions explicitly. Moreover, the formulation of some of the commandments of the Torah indicates that these laws are based on previous knowledge assumed to be familiar to those receiving the Torah. The Torah is not formulated as a book that builds an entire system of laws and judgments from the very foundations up; rather, it is a book that adds layers onto an existing basis.

  7. Redemption in Megillat Ruth

    Rabbi Yaakov Medan

    In Megillat Ruth there is a meeting between the House of Yehuda and the family of Lot. he punishment exacted of Yehuda is similar to that which befalls both Lot and Elimelekh. The tie that binds these cases is that in all three stories there is almost a total loss of family, but at the last minute a solution is found through the act of yibbum. 

     The theme uniting the three is the resurrection of the name of the dead on his property. This is redemption, and this is the goal of the House of David – to reestablish the People of Israel on its land.

  8. The Night at the Threshing Floor: Uncovering the Motives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz

    Dr. Mordechai Sabato

    The unique quality of Megillat Ruth stems from the fact that the problem arising from Ruth's remarkable loyalty to Naomi was overcome by Boaz's extraordinary strength. Boaz understood that he must not allow Ruth's kindness towards Naomi to fade into the dark of night at the threshing floor.  In a rare demonstration of profound understanding of the soul of another, Boaz recognized the purity of Ruth's motives, and thus blessed her, rather than cursing her.

    Why did Naomi send Ruth to the threshing floor in a way that could negatively reflect on Ruth, herself, and Boaz? What were Naomi's motives and objectives, and does the Tanakh approve of Naomi's plan?  We compare Megillat Ruth's challenges and tests of character with other stories in Tanakh to appreciate the pivotal moment of the Megilla.

     

    Translated by David Silverberg

     

  9. Rashbam

    Part 1

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    Rashbam displays a great deal of respect towards his grandfather, Rashi, having learnt a great deal from him, but this does not prevent him from arguing on his views. The Rashbam’s commentaries are original and creative; his avoidance of Midrashic material allows him to look at the verse in an innovative, direct way.

    The nature of Rashbam’s commentary makes the following assumptions:

    • The commentaries prior to him, including his grandfather Rashi, might have thought that they were explaining the verses in accordance with the peshat, their commentaries do not express the simple meaning of the verse.
    • The “enlightened” are those who study Tanakh without relying on any Midrashic material.
    • The Rashbam’s pursuit of pure peshat does not take away from his regard for the Sages’ traditions, which are reliable and valid. The data derived from the derash is more important than the data derived from peshat.
    • Nonetheless, the peshat maintains an independent significance.
    • Both the Peshat and the Derash are true readings of the Torah.

    The principles of Peshat according to Rashbam include:

    • Taking into account common sense, logic and nature.
    • A verse must be understood as part of the general context in which it is placed and as being integrated in the sequence of verses in which it is found.
    • The peshat of Tanakh should be understood on its own, without consulting any external information; all data must be either explicit in the text or implicit in human logic or accepted practice.

    Rashbam’s Rules for Understanding the Biblical Lexicon include:

    • Synonyms are used in juxtaposition to each other without alluding to a different meaning to each word.
    • When the Torah introduces a passage with “And it was at that time,” it is an expression which comes to tell us that this event is closely tied to the previous event.

  10. Rashbam

    Part 2

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    Foreshadowing

    One of the most important ideas that the Rashbam develops is the principle of foreshadowing. According to this principle, when the Torah notes details that appear to be disconnected, extraneous, or anachronistic, it actually provides them in order to explain an event that comes afterwards.

    It is possible to apply the principle of foreshadowing, not only to verses or fragments, but even to larger segments. For example, in the Rashbam’s introduction to Bereishit, he declares that the story of Creation interests us solely because it helps us understand the Ten Commandments.

    From explanations similar to this, it arises that the essence of the Torah is the mitzvot, while the narratives are secondary; the stories appear in order to explain the mitzvot.

    Peshat and Halakha

    In his explanations of the halakhic portion of the Torah, the Rashbam employs the same method which he applies to the narrative portion of the Torah: the explanation of the verses without any reliance on Midrashic literature. This approach is difficult to apply to mitzvot because the binding halakha is not the simple meaning of the verse, but the interpretation of the verses as the Sages explain it. The Rashbam believes that one should adopt the views of the Sages for everything that relates to practical Halakha; however, the interpretation of the peshat and the halakhic midrashim can live under the same roof. What worth does peshat have when it does not fit with Halakha? One possibility is that the peshat reflects the ideal, while the derash deals with the real.

  11. The Daughters of Tzelofhad

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

  12. Widows: Windows to Mashiach

    Rabbi Moshe Miller

    תאריך פרסום: 2023 | | 55 minutes

    Why does the mitzvah of yibum play a central role in Megillat Ruth? As a special example of the mitzvah of hesed and an ancient concept predating matan Torah, yibum is critical to resolving Creation's oldest paradox, how to continue a family line after tragedy strikes. Yehudah, Tamar, and King David are among the actors in this compelling drama.