[Avodah] Avraham Avinu and OAZ was: Re: The miraculous story of the Jews of Zakynthos [on Areivim]

[hankman]

[Thread redirected to Avodah by moderator].

Prof. Y. Levine wrote:

 It seems clear to me that /Avraham Aveinu/ and RSRH would not agree with your approach."

CM:
You are referring to the Rashi in Beraishis perek 18:4. However I think your aggregation of Avraham Avinu to your opinion may be premature according to most meforshim of that parsha and even according to Rashi.

Most of the meforshim I have seen on this parsha (Beraishis 18) do not agree with Rashi, but assert that Avraham Avinu recognized that the "anashim" were angels and not arab ovdei avoda zara. They discuss whether he saw the angels or a physical "malbush"/guf that was visible and could actually eat etc. 

See Ramban shom 18:3 & 15; Rikanti shom 18:8 (if he recognized them why did he offer food etc); Rabbeinu Bechaye shom 18:5 and Toldos Yitzchok shom 18:2 and others

The Kli Yokor (shom 18:4) seems to assume that he thought they MAY be arabs who might be ovdei avoda zara but the whole point was to make them be chozer betshuva "wash" it off their feet. So 1) They were not vadei OAZ and 2) his purpose was not just accept them as is and honor them but to get them to leave their current path. Although he asks this as a question on Rashi, I think that you could read Rashi to mean what the Kli Yokor says. Rashi says {shom 18:4) "kaszvur sheheim arvayim..." could mean he thought they may be arabs ...who bow to....  The Panim Yafos (shom 18:4) also emphasizes that the point of Avraham Avinu was to get them to leave idol worship [not merely to honor them as they are]. He was not just sitting there kechom hayom to feed passers-by who were OAZ.

Furthermore there is the opinion of those rishonim who hold that this entire episode was but a vision and did not actually happen - so AA was not mechabed OAZ and accept and help them as they are.

Prof. Y. Levine wrote:

I simply do not understand what you have written. Why is there no Chillul HaShem?

CM:
Why would there be a Chillul HaShem for not providing "proper respect" if non is due for an OAZ?


Prof. Y. Levine wrote:

Who said anything about taking comfort? 


CM:
That's how I understood your comment. Why else would you bother to mention that fact? Sorry, if that is not what you meant to express.


Kol Tuv

Chaim Manaster







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