[Avodah] A few notes on Parshas Vayetzei

[Zev Sero]

SBA Gmail wrote:

> 28:19 – Luz. 
> The Midrash 69:8 says that the Malach Hamoves had no power in the city 
> of Luz. So what happened to the senior citizens who were well past their 
> use-by dates?
> Simple.  They were placed outside the walls of the city – where they died. 
> (Sounds a bit like the Eskimo solution..)
> Would this be the first published example of institutionalized euthanasia?

They did no such thing.  Old people lived until they were tired of it,
and when they were ready to die *they* went outside the city.  They
were not "placed" outside by ungrateful children who didn't want to
go on feeding them!  No comparison to "euthanasia" at all.



> 30:27 Rashi dh Nichashti says that the proof that Lavan had no sons 
> until Yaakov arrived was the fact that he sent Rochel to the well with 
> his sheep, 
> Something he would not have done had he any sons.
> But we see that his father Besuel who did have a son - Lavan - still 
> sent his sister Rivka to do the same thing...?

Rivkah wasn't looking after any sheep.  She was going to the well to
draw water for the family, which has traditionally been women's work,
as the Eved Avraham said - "and the townspeople's daughters are coming
out to draw water".   Shepherding was traditionally men's (or boy's)
work.

Though given Rivkah's age, I imagine there was probably another woman
of the household sent to draw the water for dinner, while Rivkah
tagged along with a small pitcher, to "help".




> 31:34 - Am I understanding it correctly that Rochel was sitting on her 
> cvamel INSIDE the tent? And if so, was/is this the done thing - having 
> camels in the tent that you live?

No, she was sitting on the *saddle*.  Which was indeed kept indoors,
as one would expect.  No part of a camel -- proverbial or real -- belongs
in a tent, not even the nose.

-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas