Author: trmarvin
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Yedidya Norzi and Menachem Lonzano: An Early Modern Tale of Two Biblical Scholars
The words of birkat kohanim, the priestly blessing as recorded in the Torah (Bemidbar 6:26-24), leap out at us from the painstakingly unfurled silver scrolls dated c. 600 BCE, above. Well, not exactly leap, unless you read paleo-Hebrew, or what the rabbis of the Talmud call כתב ליבונאה, “Libonah script” (in contrast to what they term…
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Ibn Ezra in England
At the end of his life, after years of itinerant scholarship, the great commentator Avraham Ibn Ezra found himself at the far edge of the world: England. It is there (probably) that he wrote an exposition of his philosophy, known to us as Yesod Mora; and there, too, that he wrote the unusual Iggeret ha-Shabbat. We even have…
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The Jewish Mapmakers of Majorca
Image: Four leaves (each split in two) of the Catalan Atlas, showing the Mediterranean basin. On an island in the Mediterranean in the 14th century there lived a mapmaker and his son. Their story, like all good stories, is at once highly particular, a tale about idiosyncratic individuals in a distinct time and place, but…
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Chukkat: We Cannot But Be in Process
My thoughts for Chukkat 5781 for Yeshivat Maharat’s Divrei Torah: Parashat Chukat includes one of the Torah’s great mysteries: Moshe Rabbenu is told he willnot live to lead Bnei Yisrael across the Yarden and into Eretz Yisrael on account of histransgression at the (second) striking of the rock. But what was Moshe’s transgressionexactly? What could…
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Chukat: Rabbi Zushya on Moshe’s Transgression
Originally published in a local newsletter, 5779. To Rabbi Zushya, an early Hasidic master who left behind no writings but many stories, belong two of the most darkly encouraging statements about human purpose: to him is attributed the saying, “Each person should have a coat with two pockets—one pocket with a note on which it’s…
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Bechukotai: Wagering on the Meaning of Meaning
Parashat Bechukkotai is known for its aspect of tokhechah, admonition. This parashah details the consequences of pursuing God’s laws (chukkot) and commandments (mitzvot), including the positive but dwelling upon the negative, in terms of sheer number and detail. The parashah begins, “If you walk in my laws (im bechukkotai telekhu) and keep my commandments (et…
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Radak’s Use of Bereshit Rabbati
Image: “Arch of Titus” by Nick in exsilio is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 In his long comment on Bereshit 1:31, Radak includes an interesting midrash that he attributes to Bereshit Rabbati. Actually, the reference is itself embedded in an arresting interpretation of this blockbuster pasuk: וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹקים֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם…
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Halakhic Codes of the Rishonim: אורחות חיים
This series, the Halakhic Codes of the Rishonim, explores lesser-known sources of halakhah in the chain of transmission that were incorporated into Shulchan ‘Arukh (and therefore current halakhic practice), as well as halakhot and minhag lost to living observance. This is first post in the series. Image: A fragment of Orchot Chayyim (about tum’ah, ritual…
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A Closer Look at Maoz Tzur
Update: I was interviewed by Sarah Ogince of the Jewish News Syndicate for an article on the history of Maoz Tzur, “Everyone knows ‘Ma’oz Tzur,’ except they don’t,” Dec. 15, 2022. This is revised with added notes from a short piece I wrote on the well-known Chanukkah piyyut, Ma’oz Tzur, and its cultural contexts, for…
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Who was the Shimusha Rabba?
When the Shimusha Rabba is mentioned, it’s usually in connection to a rare, alternative form of tefillin. Lesser known is the source for this method, a short halakhic work on tefillin from the period of the Geonim, possibly from the earlier part of the period to which relatively few sources attest. The gaonic-era author is…