[Avodah] melucha (David Riceman)

Zev Sero zev at sero.name
Wed May 9 05:21:40 PDT 2018


On 08/05/18 20:28, David Riceman via Avodah wrote:
>> Me
>>
>>> How does this fit with Pesahim 112a al tadur b?ir sherasheha talmidei hahamim?
> 
> RZS:
>>
>> Very nicely.  R Akiva's advice clearly refers to the askanim, those
>> doing the actual work of administering the city, not to the chachamim
>> who are to guide them.
> 
> Are there other examples of “rosh” meaning subordinate? It's a surprising usage.

Certainly in more recent usage it's not at all surprising; in every 
Jewish community the Rosh Hakahal was the layman who did the work, not 
the rav who guided him.  Ditto for the Resh Galuta, who (if he were a 
yerei shamayim) would be expected to defer to the chachamim.   But at 
any rate there can't be any doubt that R Akiva is referring to the 
full-time administrators, because his whole point is that if they're to 
do their job properly they can't be learning all day.


-- 
Zev Sero            A prosperous and healthy 2018 to all
zev at sero.name       Seek Jerusalem's peace; may all who love you prosper



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