[Avodah] Fables and Lies

[Ilana Sober]

>
> RnTK: I'm sorry but we just can't use the word "myth" about the historical
> origins of the Jewish people.  The connotation of falsehood is just too
> strong.  There is also a connotation that the person who is using the term
> is more sophisticated than the people who invented the myths.
>

That's why I am very cautious about using the term, and NEVER use it without
defining it first on the spot. (Like the halacha about putting the package
out if serving soy milk etc at a fleishig meal?) But I don't think the
connotations you cite are universal. In more academic circles, I think the
definition RRW quotes, "a traditional story accepted as history; serves to
explain the world view of a people" is readily understood and does not
include those connotations. In those circles, I imagine people would have no
problem understanding a that a reference to George Washington, the American
Revolution, etc as "myth" does not imply that the speaker doubts whether GW
really existed or considers himself superior to Americans. But if you can
find a word other than "myth" that means this type of
national-identity-and-worldview-defining narrative I will be happy to adopt
it.

Note that I am NOT referring to midrash as myth - I like your use of the
term mashal for stories that convey truth without necessarily being factual.
I am doing something much worse - using the term for stories that are
definitely true/factual/historical, to convey that our remembering and
retelling these stories is a central element in forming our identity as
Jews.

We can have a true myth while other nations have false myths, just like we
can have a true G-d while other nations have false gods.

Chanukah Sameach,
Ilana
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