Sorry, Joe. I intended those as two separate thoughts. I did not mean to conflate the denim of avdus with mythology. But as far as mythology goes, we certainly have, and continue to, mythologize our history. A trivial example of which is the Artschroll Gedolim series. I’ve always felt that if Abaye and Rava could, somehow, be transported to present-day Lakewood, they would not recognize the Judaism being practiced. Well, they might recognize the Beis Medrash and that the bachurim were doing something resembling learning. But much of the current practice would be unknown to them.
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