[Avodah] Ahab

[via Avodah]

From: Eli Turkel via Avodah  <avodah at lists.aishdas.org>

<<Until the Torah was given on  Sinai the Avos were not obligated to keep it
...However, for the most part  they did keep the Torah even before it
was given. Yosef and Moshe certainly  converted their wives, but to what?   
To
monotheism and to  membership in the Abrahamite tribe -- not to Judaism,
which didn't formally  exist until the Torah was given. [--TK] >>

[1] what does it  mean that Yosef and Moshe converted theri wives? [2] They 
were the
only  "Jews" around and certainly no bet din. [3] Yosef kept secret that he 
was
a  son of Jacob and so its clear what his wife knew. [4 ] Did his wife also 
 keep
"most of the Torah".

-- 
Eli Turkel

 
 
>>>>>
[1] Already answered.  It means "they converted their wives to  monotheism 
and to membership in the Abrahamite tribe." 
 
[2] Correct, already noted, "not to Judaism, which didn't formally exist  
until the Torah was given."
 
[3] You probably meant to write "it's NOT clear what his wife knew."   He 
did not keep his identity or his religious beliefs secret from his wife and  
children.  That is how Menashe and Ephraim were raised "Jewish" -- putting  
it in quotation marks because Judaism didn't formally exist yet -- even  
before the 11 brothers showed up and Yosef revealed himself to them.  That  is 
how they were raised in the faith of the Avos and were tzaddikim when  Yakov 
came to Egypt, such that he recognized them as equal to his 12 sons even  
though they had grown up in Egypt with an Egyptian mother.  She was a "Jew"  
(with quotation marks for the stated reason).
 
[4] His wife probably kept most of the Torah, yes.  
 
 

--Toby Katz
t613k at aol.com
..
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