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Why We Study Old Texts
North Miami Beach, FL April 28, 2001
Aaron H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then, Opinions pro or con are welcome.
WHY WE STUDY OLD TEXTS
In the Jewish tradition we read weekly portions of the Hebrew text of the
five books of Moses. A practice we don't have much need for any more such as
the proper way to slaughter animals for sacrifice is the subject of a
portion we just studied. Or, as in the case of last evening's sermon given
very cogently by Rabbi Jim Simon, it involves the priestly intervention in
instances of a person contracting something very much like leprosy or one of
its imitators. In those days this meant the person was "unclean" and there
were many things that made one unclean. This morning our study was presided
over by Rabbi Sam Rothberg. We spent a lot of time investigating those
topics having to do with bodily emissions and these provoked in us rueful
comment and amusement.
The point of such a textual study is to glean sustenance from it for living
in today's world. We tend not to worry too much about Hanson's disease any
more since we find it amenable to modern medicines. But, what can we glean
from ancient words that will make sense to us today? Rabbi Simon suggested
the following. It makes sense to me.
The interesting thing about the text is that it involves the High Priest
laying hands on the leper, sort of like a physician (but more like an agent
of the supernatural world) who determined if it is the dread disease or some
other less drastic mimic. We sometimes send the victim away to protect us
from contagion. In olden times a cure was not sought for the Priest studied
the progress of the condition and after a time announced a theological
determination of the extent of the unfortunate's uncleanness.
It is significant that the person who handled this terrible disease was the
person who was also responsible for performing the most important rituals of
the religion and was in a direct line from God to Moses to the People of
Israel. We may set the "unclean" apart for a time but they belong to us and
we are responsible for them. I think this is a good thing. This is a
terribly difficult portion we feel we must confabulate over.
Carol's Evaluation: 9.5 out of 10. Aaron's comment. This was terribly
difficult to write about on one page.
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