[Avodah] Boys Being Taught How to Cook

[Ben Waxman]

Right but only with Jacob's sons do we actually see the Avot shepherding. 
With Avraham it is explicit that he had employees doing the work. So yes, 
technically they may called themselves shepherds, but tachlis Avraham was 
home and others did the shepherding.

And frankly I think that we are really being romantic about the job of 
shepherding. From Yaacov's description of his job in Breishit 31:40 it 
doesn't sound like a job which is conducive to philosophizing. And from what 
I saw when I lived in Niger, not much has changed.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com>

> Ben:
>> Actually, that isn't quite accurate. Abraham and Isaac owned a lot of
>> animals but where are they described as sheperds?
>
> Breishis 47:3 roeih tzon ..gam anachnu gam avoseinu
>
> Ben
>> Jacob was given the job when he went to Lot's;
> I don't think choice is relevant. the point is that ro'I'm - whether tzon
> or mikneh and whether by choice or chance- are free to contemplate HKBH.
> Probably hashgacha prattis allowed the Avos to have that profession