Defence Against the Dark Arts
The Talmud
Ribbí Yohhanan said:
No one is accepted to the Sanhedrin other than men of stature, men of wisdom, of appearance and age, masters of kishuf (=forbidden harmful supernatural powers) and speakers of 70 languages...
On this statement, RaSh"Y comments:
However, the ‘Oz Vehadar edition's "Collected RaSh"Y" feature adds another comment of RaSh"Y's on the same topic from somewheres else in the Talmud; one which my hhevruta and myself found a whole lot more intriguing:
(now off to read Harry Potter #7, hopefully finishing it in time for a special Harry Potter themed shalashuddess this coming Shabbos)
of Babylonseider Neziqinmasekhet Sanhedrindaf 17‘amud A
Ribbí Yohhanan said:
No one is accepted to the Sanhedrin other than men of stature, men of wisdom, of appearance and age, masters of kishuf (=forbidden harmful supernatural powers) and speakers of 70 languages...
On this statement, RaSh"Y comments:
[In order to be able] to execute mekhashefim who rely on their kishuf-powers to escape from the Court; and to expose mekhashefim who use their kishuf-powers to entice [others] and push [them away from God]...According to this comment, it seems that the need to be 'masters of kishuf' is for the purpose of counteracting kishuf, as well as identifying it.
However, the ‘Oz Vehadar edition's "Collected RaSh"Y" feature adds another comment of RaSh"Y's on the same topic from somewheres else in the Talmud; one which my hhevruta and myself found a whole lot more intriguing:
So that if the one judged [and sentenced to execution] is a mekhasheif, and he enchants the [executioner's] sword or fire so that they will not affect him — they [=the judges of the Sanhedrin] will also use kishuf-powers to slay him by any means necessary.
(now off to read Harry Potter #7, hopefully finishing it in time for a special Harry Potter themed shalashuddess this coming Shabbos)
carved on the walls of the caverns by Steg (dos iz nit der šteg) at 8/14/2007 09:32:00 AM
4 Comments:
>a special Harry Potter themed shalashuddess this coming Shabbos)
You've seen my cousin Bruce's website http://www.harrypottertorah.com/ and its associated blog? And Lulu book?
i've seen it, but i haven't really looked at it in depth yet. i'll forward the link to the host of the meal.
Cool, that *is* Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The "Harry Potter Torah" book is a neat idea - take the excitement that people feel about Harry Potter and show that Torah can be at least as exciting.
Without the Rashi, I'd have liked to think it's not about kishef machers but about kishefologists*, expert witnesses. It's not about wishful thinking that everything in Jewish intellectual history is rational, but it's hard to imagine for the setting.
* Steg, I hope you don't get into trouble for this word.
Post a Comment
<< Home