VaYeishev 5770
If you are interested in a post from this parsha week O.Y.A. please see here where there are links to several ghosts of Vayeishevs past.
Peretz Part I
The Ramban explains that the root word peretz indicates the breaching of a fence and a passing through, the overstepping of an expected boundary. The name of Peretz comes from the fact that he took it upon himself to break through and come out first during the birth of twins. As another example of the use of this word the Ramban cites Breishit 28:14, “Ufaratztah – and you shall break through to the West and to the East…” (Sforno explains that those words contextually. G-d says that we will be many/great following the words saying we'll be like dust because the process is such that we must be denigrated through galut before we are redeemed with geulah.
Rabbi Shlomo Yoseif Zevin in LaTorah VelLaMoadim takes pause at the Ramban’s comments on the word peretz. Boundaries, Rabbi Zevin explains, work in both directions – they keep inside what must stay inside and they block out what should not enter from outside.
posted by rabbi neil fleischmann @ 11:59 PM
2 Comments:
"Boundaries, Rabbi Zevin explains, work in both directions – they keep inside what must stay inside and they block out what should not enter from outside."
This is a key concept in sociology (I learned it in Soc. 1 in college!) -- how societies define themselves, define their norms of behavior, ethnicity, whatever. And yes, it's very important to remember that it works both ways, for better and worse. It's the instinct that causes some Americans to call for closing our borders, getting tough on immigration, etc. And it's the basis for groups creating a web of customs and rules to preserve their uniqueness and safety through the vicissitudes of history. I would use both the Amish and the ultra Orthodox Jews as an example of the latter.
This is probably the first time I've ever used the word "vicissitudes", and I hope it's the last for a long while! :-D
Thanks. Great comment (and word usage). There's a whole other side, continuation of this that I hope to write up and post soon - PG.
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