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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>>>> Aside from this, many Torah laws are phrased
very<BR>similarly to Hammurabi-ish laws (especially parshat
Mishpatim),<BR>whether because of common idioms and style (see above), or in
order to<BR>draw a contrast with what is different between the laws....
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<DIV><BR>>>>>>Actually, this is in fact davka why Rav Hirsch says
we must learn<BR>Canaanite, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Roman culture and history
- he<BR>says we cannot understand the Torah's moral laws without knowing
what<BR>they are polemicizing against. I will humbly suggest we extend
Rav<BR>Hirsch's words to many ritualistic laws too.<BR><BR>Mikha'el
Makovi<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>1. How do you know the Code of Hammurabi came first? Maybe Torah came
first, and it was not they who influenced us (if only to prompt a
response), but we who influenced them? For all we know, the Torah
laws being taught in the yeshiva of Shem v'Ever may have been widely known (and
changed, and distorted, with the passage of time) by the various Semitic peoples
of the Middle East. The Avos knew and kept the Torah long before it was
given on Sinai.</DIV>
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<DIV>2. Did Hirsch really advocate learning "Canaanite, Egyptian, Babylonian,
and Roman culture and history"? Did he really say, "we cannot understand
the Torah's moral laws without knowing what they are polemicizing
against?" Do you happen to remember where he says this? It's not
totally impossible but doesn't sound exactly like him. </DIV>
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<DIV>The Torah lists many forbidden sexual relationships, and says that the
Canaanites did these things and that's why they deserved to lose their land, and
we had better not do what the Canaanites did lest we get kicked out, too,
c'v. But aside from the information that the Torah and Nevi'im themselves
provide about the types of immorality that the Canaanites engaged in, does
anyone seriously suggest that we should study Canaanite religions and social
practices in depth, from Canaanite sources, in order to fully understand what
the Torah forbids and why? </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><B><BR></B><BR><B>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============<BR></B><BR></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? <A title="http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001" href="http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001" target="_blank">Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>