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Dvar Torah from this weeks Parsha on Cham ben Noach
(57 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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You asked me my approach, and I offered it.
What's your approach? Deny, whitewash, and/or censor the aforementioned Torah, Gemorah, Meforshim, and Zohar?
Posted 1 year ago # -
A few ideas:
1) The passuk says Arur Canaan, yet he was only the youngest son of Cham. The oldest was Cush, who is usually associated with Ethiopia and dark skin, (Esrog Hacushi). Since he was not cursed, we see that dark skin is natural and innocent.
2) It was only for one group of individuals at that time, not all black people in all times.
3) In Shabbos, the betting man asked Hillel about a number of character traits and how they arise, and did not ask about dark skin when it came to the Africans.
4) Midrashim should not always be taken literally, as the Ramban told the priest in the vikuach.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Pashuteh Yid,
That is your daas yochid and your own chiddushim. It is designed to fit with modern sensibilities, rather than to interpret the Torah truthfully.
Posted 1 year ago # -
To ME, the most important value of this thread is its Divrei Torah!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Here is another Rayah:
5. The Rambam when talking about the milchemes zayin amamim says "Ukvar avad zichrom" since Sancheriv was mevalbel all the nations. If in fact Canaan, who is one of these 7 nations had easily recognizable dark skin, then we would know who this nation is. Vais dach ois that the color of the skin does not identify one's origin.
Posted 1 year ago # -
P.Y.: Still trying to make the Torah adhere to modern standards, rather than looking for the emes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Will, here is the Pashuteh Yid axiom: If your pshat does not sit well with the Gadol, the frum yid, the freier yid, and the goy, all at the same time (i.e., any possible audience, without offending anybody), then it is not emes. I am not saying the maamar chazal is not emes, I am saying that your hesber is not emes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Pashut, all I can say to your comment is nebech. You can be helped, but unfortunately I don't know how to be your shliach.
I won't even begin trying to figure out how a supposedly frum Jew needs a goy and a freier to accept pshat for it to be emes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ever hear the saying "you can't please everybody"?
Posted 1 year ago # -
The big one, Deracheha darchei noam VCHOL nesivoseha shalom. Every single word of Torah has to be shalom. If it offends somebody, then something is wrong. Divrei Torah are supposed to be mesukim midvash vnofes tzufim.
Posted 1 year ago # -
"From the standpoint of the Torah, there can be no distinction between one human being and another on the basis or race or color. Any discrimination shown to a human being on account of the color of his skin constitutes loathsome barbarity. It must be conceded that the Torah recognized a distinction between a Jew and a non-Jew. This distinction, however, is not based upon race, origin or color, but rather upon k'dushah, the holiness endowed by having been given and having accepted the Torah. Furthermore, the distinction between Jew and non-Jew does not involve any concept of inferiority but is based primarily upon the unique and special burdens that are incumbent upon Jews."
- Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik z'tz'l, *Logic of the Heart, Logic of the Mind*, page 61.
Posted 1 year ago # -
CharlieHall, Thanks for the post. Boruch shekivanti l'daas godol b'yisroel.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Pashuteh Yid
"Every single word of Torah has to be shalom. If it offends somebody, then something is wrong." CORRECT. Something is wrong with the person who is offended.Posted 1 year ago # -
It is Parshas Noach again.
Posted 4 months ago # -
And l'kovod this week's parsha, every time I diaper my granddaughter, I tell her, "OY, a MABUL!!!"
Posted 4 months ago # -
I did a lot of iyun on this Dvar Torah, the curse of Canaan to be an eved. (and the related Midrash Tanchuma). still don't have pshat. What I DO know from Tanach and the midrash is:
1. According to Rashi, the Canaanim conquered the Semites and kicked them out of Eretz Canaan.
2. Nimrod, the first world emperor, was from Cham.
3. The Mitzriyim were from Cham.
4. The midrash says "ish mitzri" by Potiphar means "ish chacham", as the mitzriyim were chachamim.
5. The Egyptians who managed to enslave the Jews for 210 years were Bnei Cham.
6. The mighty Phoenicians were Canaanim.
7. Hashem didn't let the malachim say Shira by Krias Yam Sug, even though the Tzelem Elokims drowning were Mitzriyim.
8. An additional midrash says Eliezer was Canaan, and went from arur to baruch through his faithful servitude by Avraham Avinu.
9. Olam haba is not determined by skin color. It's determined by deed.Posted 4 months ago #
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