<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>2) Achad Haam has an article in which he claims that Ben Peturah represents the Xtian viewpoint that emphasizes subjective emotion over objective justice. This one has to be willing to sacrifice ones life for someone else. R Akiva represents the Jeiwsh (correct!) viepoint that saving a life (ie one dead and not 2) overrides compassion. So the owner gets everything.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Interestingly a medieval Arab philosopher brings a similar story and "paskens" that the water should go to the one who will bring the greatest help to mankind.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>There is even an ancient philosopher who brings a similar story of 2 from a sinking ship holding onto a piece wood that is strong enough for one. He "paskens" that the stronger one should throw off the weaker one and if he doesnt he is a foolish tzadik.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Domiel quotes Achad Haam and disagrees and says compassion should win out over justice.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>…………………………..</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>then "ad she-bah Rav Akivah" indicating that the accepted explanation was Ben Peturah until much later Rav Akivah disagreed based on a pasuk.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Most telling is Ben Peturah's reasoning in the gemara (as distinct from RCS or CI) that one shouldnt see the death of the other which sounds like an emotional argument.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#000099'>Eli Turkel</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>===================================<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I’ve wondered about that ad she-bah and have not seen a compelling explanation (no body before r’akiva thought of that pasuk?)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>On the broader question the use of the word “correct” is very interesting. There’s a lot to discuss as to exactly what “Jewish ethics” are in practice (e.g. deontological, consequentialist…..) – start with this one – would rabbi akiva’s answer be the same if the one without the water was the gadol hador? Would it be required, forbidden or permissible to give up the water in that case? What if it were the child of the water owner? (there is literature on the former case)<br>KT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Joel Rich<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div>
<br><pre><font color="blue">
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE
ADDRESSEE. IT MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE. Dissemination,
distribution or copying of this message by anyone other than the addressee is
strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify us
immediately by replying: "Received in error" and delete the message.
Thank you.
</font></pre><br>
</body></html>