[Avodah] kimu v'kiblu, purim,

[Harry Maryles]

--- On Fri, 6/10/11, kennethgmiller at juno.com <kennethgmiller at juno.com> wrote:



R' Harvey Benton asked:
> 1. Why is the Torah binding if given to us by force? The answer
> often given is that we re-accepted it during the times of Purim.
> What then was the Torah's status upon us in-between Har Sinai,
> and the times of Purim?

R' Micha Berger responded:

> That answer isn't just often given, it's the next line in the
> gemara (Shabbos 88b). Rava presents it as an answer.

I do not see this as an answer to the question. At least, not an answer to the way RHB presents the question.

That Gemara might explain why the Torah is binding on *us*, and why the Torah was binding on *Rava*. But RHB's question was whether it was binding on the Jews <<< in-between Har Sinai, and the times of Purim >>>.

Not only does that Gemara fail to answer RHB's question, but it seems to me that it demonstrates the very opposite: If Rava says that the Torah is binding on us because we accepted it willingly on Purim, then he appears to accept the idea that the forced acceptance at Sinai did *not* create a binding obligation.
---------------------------------------
 
Along these lines I saw the following over Shavuos:.
 
1) If We said Naaseh V'Nishma, why did we need to be forced via holding a mountain over our heads? …we already accepted!
 
2) If we were forced, Why the the Beis HaMikdash destoryed? Don't we have a good Taaneh?
 
I saw these questions and an answer quoted in the name Rav Mordechai Meltzer in a Sefer called MeShulchan Gavoha. 
 
Naaseh V'Nishma was said about accepting the Mitzvos. Forcing us was about Limud HaTorah. i.e. that if we do not study the Torah we will buried 'Sham' - there. That answers both questions.  We have no excuse for not observing the Mitzvos because we accepted them willingly. 
 
A realted Vort from Rav Aharon Bakst (in that same Sefer).
 
When the mountian was raised like a cask over our heads and we were given the alternative of following the torah or being buried there - Kevurasom Sham (Shabbos 88b). Why the word 'Sham' - there instead of 'Po' - here? 
 
Because our punishment is L'Doros meaning whenever and wherever we are when we reject the Torah we will be buried 'there'.
 
BTW For an interesting take on why the name of Ploni Almoni is not mentioned in Megilas Rus one will have to venture into my blog and see my post on Erev Shavuos. There I wrote an adaptation of Rabbi Dr. Lamm's Drasha from his book 'Festivals of Faith'.
 
HM
 

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Try this: http://haemtza.blogspot.com/

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