Eventually I'll post some notes, though possibly not until after Shabbat (D&D tonight, board meeting tomorrow night).
Here's an example you may find entertaining. One of the 39 melachot (forbidden types of work on Shabbat) is "borer", selecting. This arises in the context of refining flour; IIRC, borer is the step where you pick out the wheat kernels from some non-food bits of the plant. (I'm a city kid; I'm taking their word on this.)
Ok, fine. The first 11 melachot are all about steps leading to bread, but with the understanding that there's broader application. So, I asked, is this notion of separating edible from inedible based on a global definition of "edible", or on a local one? For example, I said, suppose I'm allergic to peanuts; is it borer for me to pick the cashews and pecans out of the mixed nuts, leaving the peanuts behind? Rabbi Gibson's conclusion is that it is. So, I said, what about preferences; is it borer to pick out the yellow M∓Ms? He thinks that it is not.
But it's not *really* talmud study unless you get into arguments where you disagree vehemently (although, of course, with respect) about stuff. That's the fun part! (Or so I've heard...)
Sure, it is a start. I think that the whole point of studying with someone is to have someone point out a different interpretation. It's important to have someone you can reflect off of. (Wave without a Shore, by C.J. Cherryh, is a rather interesting SF book about the last point.)
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Date: 2002-02-20 12:09 pm (UTC)Here's an example you may find entertaining. One of the 39 melachot (forbidden types of work on Shabbat) is "borer", selecting. This arises in the context of refining flour; IIRC, borer is the step where you pick out the wheat kernels from some non-food bits of the plant. (I'm a city kid; I'm taking their word on this.)
Ok, fine. The first 11 melachot are all about steps leading to bread, but with the understanding that there's broader application. So, I asked, is this notion of separating edible from inedible based on a global definition of "edible", or on a local one? For example, I said, suppose I'm allergic to peanuts; is it borer for me to pick the cashews and pecans out of the mixed nuts, leaving the peanuts behind? Rabbi Gibson's conclusion is that it is. So, I said, what about preferences; is it borer to pick out the yellow M∓Ms? He thinks that it is not.
but...
Date: 2002-02-20 05:30 pm (UTC)Re: but...
Date: 2002-02-21 07:38 am (UTC)Re: but...
Date: 2002-02-21 06:49 pm (UTC)