[Avodah] maaseh avot siman lebanim

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 09:14:15PM +0200, Eli Turkel wrote:
> This is a key point . When we say that "ma'asei avos siman labanim" does
> that mean that Avraham consciencly purchased maarat hamechpala because
> of its effect on future generations (and similar for other events)
> or does it mean that actions of the avot done completely unconsciously
> have some effect on the future (how does that work) or possibly that
> G-d guided the avot into circumstances so that it would affect the future.

Why not take the word "siman" at face value? It doesn't mean some
metaphysical causal connection, so why assume the Ramban would use the
word that way?

Hashem left us lessons in the stories He retold of the avos's deed. Both
in the outcome He provided for the events and in His choice of anecdotes
for us to emulate (and sometimes, to avoid -- eg RSRH on raising Eisav).
So, Hashem gives us the first part of Vayishlach to teach us the moral
strategy in dealing with contemporary Eisav's.

As implied in my first paragraph: No maqor, just taking the words at
face value. But it would explain the Rambam's implication that these are
implicitly suggested behaviors. See his haqdamah to shemos, and peirush
on Bereishis 12:6, 14:1, 32:26, 33:18, 48:22.

In either case, it would seem difficult to understand the Rambam as
saying maaseh avos are descriptive rather than prescriptive messages
about the future.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 Time flies...
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