[Avodah] literalism

[Richard Wolpoe]

On 10/8/07, saul mashbaum <smash52 at netvision.net.il> wrote:
>
> RRW wrote:
>
> >>
> Hazal were rarely highly literal.  Applying highly literal standards are
> mis-leading and often can lead to mis-perceptions of what is meant.  Often
> the Gmara itself reformulates statemnts wti h"hachi Ko'amar...
> >>
>
> . However, when judiciously applied, RRW's priciple about literalness is
> sound. Too bad it's so difficult to determine when the principle applies.
>
> Saul Mashbaum
>

There is no simple rule but the more one learns the more likely one applies
this correctly .

The idea of not being highly literal is elaboratd by R. Avraham ben Rambam's
intro to Aggadah.

The literary style of that era was to often speak in meataphors or
hyperboles
EG: Adam rotze bekav sehlo miti'sha kabbim shel haveiro. there the Talmud
tells us it is a guzma b'alma.

Remember, that seeing things as not literal is NOT meant to  deny the
underlying TRUH behind the statement. Rather  it poisnt ot a style of
getting how one gets a  point  across.

Di Yehsay literally  mean [ ch. 1 haftora of Hazzon]   that we were as S'dom
and A'morah?  OR were they metpahors alluding to the kind of evil behavior
and he was  using hyperbole?

-- 
Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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