[Avodah] O vs pharisee

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 05:26:29PM -0400, Zev Sero wrote:
>>  The Gemara actually criticizes the Perushim.

> Presumably you refer to Sotah 22a, where the gemara criticises *fake*
> Prushim...

RZS typoed, he meant: amud beis.

Josephus mentions that an essential part of what made the Perushim
distinct was observance of tum'ah vetaharah.

I don't think you get a real sense of how separatist being a "chaver"
was until learning Zera'im. Between already extant halakhah and new
taqanos (eg demai, numerous laws that assume amei ha'aretz are perpetually
chosheshim for being tamei), added to minhagim like eating chol al taharas
qodesh, it became difficult to share a meal with non-Perushim. Or borrow
their clothing...

In comparison, stam yeinam is a mere molehill.

It also explains why divrei chaveirus is such a big deal. C.f. AZ 39a,
Yad, Hil Mitam'ei Mishkav uMoshav 10:2.

So, the name "Perushim" doesn't surprise me.

Also, the people who follow gezeiros are poreshim from things dangerous
close to violating deOrasisos. But that doesn't fit Josephus as well,
as he focuses on taharos bedavqa.

>       ... (The NT's criticisms of "Pharisees" may be seen in the same
> light, as aimed only at the fake ones.)

Off topic, but I think they really meant us. Part of the justification
of the abandonment of the whole concept of Jewish Law (halakhah or some
sect's version) is to portray people for whom compliance to law occluded
their acting on faith and morality.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             You cannot propel yourself forward
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