daf bit: Pesachim 56

[cellio]

The g'mara on today's daf discusses saying the Sh'ma. We say "Sh'ma Yisrael..." (hear oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one) and then, quietly, say "baruch shem kavod..." (blessed be the name of God's glorious majesty forever and ever). Why do we do this before going on with the next paragraph (the v'ahavta)? R. Shimon ben Lakish said: when Yaakov called to his sons (on his deathbed) he intended to tell them what would befall them in the end of days, and the Shekhina (divine presence) departed from him. Yaakov said: heaven forfend, perhaps there is one unfit among my children, like Avraham (who had Yishmael) or Yitzchak (who had Eisav). But his sons answered him "sh'ma Yisrael...". In that moment Yaakov opened his mouth and said "baruch shem kavod...". This left the rabbis in a quandry: maybe we shouldn't say it because Moshe didn't (the second phrase isn't part of the passage being quoted), but maybe we should because Yaakov said it. So we say it, but quietly. (56a)

Comments

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I've never been Orthodox or Conservative, but I enjoy your daf bits. But this one makes me wonder: Is there a reason you don't use the English forms of the Biblical names?: Jacob, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, Moses?

[cellio]

I transliterate the Hebrew. The common English names passed through Greek (and possibly Latin) on their way to English, but I don't feel bound by that.

Also, there is an educational aspect to it; am I correct in inferring that the names are close enough that you know who I'm talking about, albeit (from your POV) unusual? Perhaps my using the Hebrew forms I help others become a little more familiar with those versions for when they encounter them elsewhere.

But mostly, because that's how my brain seems to be wired. :-) And thanks for letting me know you enjoy these!

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

OK, yes, thanks for the explanation. :-)