Ask the Rabbi

COMPLAINTS AGAINST OUR GEMARRAH OR TALMUD

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Rabbi Ari Shvat

Tishrei 6, 5778
Question
WATCHED IN SPANISH DOCUMENTAL HISTORIA DEL ISLAM THEN UNDER COMMENTARY ARAB WOMAN JUMPED AGAINST JEWISH COMMENTATOR THESE 1.TO HIT A JEWISH PERSON IS LIKE HITTING THE FACE OF GOD SANHEDRIN 58B  2. WHAT IS A PROSTITUTE? IT IS ANY WOMAN NON-JEWISH EBEN HAEZER 6,8.  I THOUGHT OUR TORAH TEACHES US TO BE HUMBLE AN RESPECT OTHER NATIONS. 3. THAT AN ADULT COPULATES WITH A NON ADULT WOMAN MEANS NOTHING. KETOBOTH 11B WHY ARE THEY PROMULGATING CHILD ABUSE.  4 . JEWS CAN USE LIES TO SWINDLE GENTILES. BABHA KAMMA 113A  WHERE IS THE OBSERVATION OF OUR COMMANDMENTS  5.A NON-JEW WHO STUDIES TALMUD OR A JEW WHO HELPS HIM DO SO IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH SANHEDRIN 59A AND ABHODAN ZARAH 8,6.  SO HOW COME RABBI AKIVAH EXPLAINED TO ROMAN THE TORAH ON ONE LEG. 6.DESTROY THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN AND KILL HIM BECAUSE THEN YOU WILL BE GRACIOUS TO THE DIVINE MAJESTY AS ONE WHO OFFERS INCENSE. SEPHR OR ISRAEL 177 B  AND THEY DESCRIBE THE FLORENTINE BOY THE JEWS KIDNAPPED AND CUT TO PIECES. THIS ARAB WOMAN IS DESCRIBING THE JEWS AS THE REAL ISIS. IT IS SHAMEFUL TO HEAR THESE FACTS.  NOW THEY ARE SAYING JEWS INVENTED ISIS TO BRING HATE TO THE ARABS SHOULD ONE RESPECT AND STUDY GEMARRAH.  YOU CAN TELL THE ARABS ARE NOW STUDYING GMARRAH  AND BRIGING US SHAME.    CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS PERPLEXITY.?  I HAVE STUDIED GEMARRAH MANY YEARS BUT NEVER SAW THAT PART IS IT YERUSHALMI OR BABYLON?
Answer
I don’t understand why you take anti-Semitic propaganda seriously? As most propaganda, it’s comprised of the same old misquotes repeated over and over (translated over by apostate Jews in order to “get rich quick” by finding favor in the eyes of the local church) which can easily mislead the unlearned, for the learned understand the real context. Within the short scope of this framework, the blatant lies of the blood-libels and ritual killings quoted (#6) and fabrication that gentiles are allowed to be swindled (#4), should be enough to have everybody suspect all of the other misquotes as well! If Jews throw out an egg because it has 1 spot of blood, how can any fool believe that we slaughter Christian boys in Europe to use their blood for matzoh? Give me a break!! (I don’t know what “Sephr or Israel 177b” is, but it’s not a Jewish book!). Regarding the other quotes, there are 2 kosher, but different approaches: the much simpler view which I recommend for most people (who can’t sit for hours with their local rabbi), is that of the Rambam (Shmoneh Prakim, p. 117) and Rav Hai Gaon and most Geonim (Otzar HaGaonim, Chagiga, p. 6) who posit that all such aggadic statements in rabbinic literature were written for their time (about 1,700 years ago), for only the halachic statements of chazal are obligatory for all generations. The 2nd approach is to be intellectually honest, and study each quote properly in its complete chapter and context, and in the original Hebrew or Aramaic, which obviously takes much more time. I can just point out in general, that any intelligent person realizes that it’s pretty anachronistic to take any statement from any (!) book written 1,700 years ago in a very particular context, and try applying it simplistically to a modern world, mindset, and culture. He knows that inevitably he’s going to misunderstand and accordingly misquote, just about everything there. If you do wish to understand each and every statement in its original, like I said, sit down properly with your local rabbi.
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