[Avodah] life donation

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 06:09:31PM -0500, Rich, Joel wrote:
: There's literature on giving up your life for a greater person - seems
: to start with sefer chassidim 698 and a r' akiva/ reuvain ben itztrolibi
: which I can not trace any earlier. If anyone has earlier cite, let me
: know please.

What about Adam donating 70 years toward David haMelekh? Yalqut Shimoni
and Zohar, Vayishlach. Based on Tehillim 21:5. So, that pushes the date
up before the Sefer haChassidim.

In the Zohar's version, Avraham. Yaaqov and Yoseif did as well. (I won't
try to explain what the Zohar says about why Yitzchaq didn't.) Avraham
gave 5 years, Yaaqov 28 years -- both "should have" lived 180. Yosef
only lived 110 yrs out of 147 -- another 37.

Of course, we now have 140 -- Adam's 70 and the avos's 70. Not sure
why the same years needed to be given twice.

Regardless of our never-ending discussion of the historicity of medrash,
the donation is presented as a good thing.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them,
micha at aishdas.org        I have found myself, my work, and my God.
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