Ten Minutes of Torah

with

Rabbi Chaim Weiner

 

 

Yitro – 5767

 

 

שמות כ:ז

 

זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ:

Exodus 20: 8

 

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

 

 

 

 

Rashi:

 

Remember the Sabbath Day. The following is the meaning: take care to remember always the Sabbath day. That if, for example, you come across a nice article of food during the week, put it aside for the Sabbath day.

 

Rashbam:

 

Remember the Sabbath Day. ‘Remember’ always relates to the days that have gone by. For example.  [Deuteronomy 32:7]  Remember the days of old [Exodus 13:3]   Remember this day, on which you went free from Egypt,  [Deuteronomy 9:7] Remember, never forget, how you provoked the LORD your God to anger in the wilderness. So also here: - remember the Sabbath day of the six days of creation, as it continues to explain – for in six days the Lord made … and therefore it mentions here ‘remember’ - in order to sanctify it rest from all work.

 

 

QUESTION

 

How do Rashi and Rashbam differ in their understanding of the word ‘Remember’?

 

 

 


 

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS:

 

 

  1. What problem are the commentators addressing?

 

The reason given for not going through the Land of the Philistines is that it was too close. Being close is a reason to choose a route, not a reason to avoid it. The verse doesn’t make sense.

 

  1. How does each commentator resolve the problem?

 

Rashi: Looks backwards towards Egypt – God didn’t choose the short route because it would be too easy for the people to return to Egypt.

 

Rashbam: looks forward towards Canaan. God didn’t choose the short route because the people would arrive in Canaan too quickly, and would not be ready for the anticipated battles that they would face.

 

Rambam: looks at the time in the desert. God didn’t choose the short route because the time in the desert would build their character and help them make the transition from being slaves in Egypt to becoming free people in the Land of Israel.

 

  1. Are Rashi and Rashbam saying the same thing?

 

 No. See above. They both mention going back to Egypt, but Rashi explains that the problem is that they would be attracted back to Egypt, whereas Rashbam is looking forward to Canaan and fear of the war there.

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________

 

No ‘Ten Minutes of Torah next week. I will be in Morocco planning the March Jewish Journeys Trip!

 

Ten Minutes of Torah was prepared by Rabbi Chaim Weiner, based on the methods of Prof. Nechama Leibowitz. Rabbi Weiner studied and corresponded with Prof. Leibowitz for several years.

 

 

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