The Failed Mission - 2
It's me again, with a few more questions. But before you start, please read Part 1.
As always, a disclaimer. Everything I write is simply my opinion, and is not something you may or should agree with.
All the questions presented in this essay are the ones I have learned about and have read explanations of, in English, from the books that I have access to, by the rabbis who have already stated their opinions on these topics. But I am still not satisfied with their answers. This is just my personal opinion. With your permission, I would like to tackle them in my own way. With your permission, let's go!
- In the Parashat Vayishlach, when the nation is standing next to the waters of Yam Suf, it says that the sea didn't open until the sea saw the bones of Yosef HaTzaddik that Moshe Rabbenu was carrying, and in honor of Yosef, it parted. So, I don't understand why the Mashiach of the generation - Moshe Rabbenu - has suddenly become irrelevant? Who or what made him so irrelevant? Why does the sea see Yosef's casket and parts in his honor, but totally disregards the presence of Moshe Rabbenu?? Why? This is something I understand in a different light.
- In Parashat Bereshit, we know of the sin that Adam and Chava have committed, eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, but there's another sin that they have committed. I don't understand why this one was swept under the rug. How come no big deal is made out of it? And the BIG question is, who has atoned for it?
- In Parashat Yitro, when Yitro came to Moshe in the desert, he brought with him Moshe's wife and 2 kids. I don't understand: at a time when the nation was having four to six children at once, why did Moshe Rabbenu have only two?
- How about this one - Moshe Rabbenu has committed another "sin", but for some reason, he came out of it, or Hashem did not hold him liable for it, at least at that time, or so it seems. But someone had to atone for it. Who was that? Someone got the beating from Hashem for it. I don't understand why no one speaks about it.
In addition to the above questions, I would like to touch on my favorite topic: Aher.
- In Masechet Chagigah 14b-15b, I have plenty of problems with the Aher and the way this Gemara was explained, but I would like to add a few more points:
I still stand by my personal rule: No Tannah EVER Goes OFF The Derekh. The fact that Rabbi Elisha ben Avuya was treated this way really bothers me. So, let's revisit it and add on more questions to this list!!
The Gemara relates: The daughter of Aḥer came before Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and said to him: "Rabbi, provide me with sustenance, as I am in need of food." He said to her, "Whose daughter are you?" She said to him: I am the daughter of Aḥer. He said to her, angrily: Is there still of his seed remaining in the world? But isn't it stated: "He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people or any remaining in his dwellings" (Job 18:19)? She said to him: Remember his Torah, and do not remember his deeds. Immediately, fire descended and licked Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's bench. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi wept and said: If G-d protects the honor of those who treat the Torah with contempt in such a manner, as Aḥer despised the Torah and relinquished its teachings, how much more so would He do for those who treat it with honor.
How come Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi did not for a second think that the fact that the fire descended from above meant that Aher meant much more for Hashem, and that's why the fire hit Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's bench?
And if the daughter of Aher was still alive, so this pasuk: "He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people or any remaining in his dwellings" (Job 18:19), doesn't apply to Aher.
On top of it, there's an opinion that Aher had one daughter, some say a few, but from this daughter was born the Tanna Rabbi Yaakov, who was the teacher of the redactor of the Mishnah - Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, see Kiddushin 39b, Chulin 142a. So, in my opinion, his daughter stayed alive, and he had a grandson who joined the ranks of the transmitters of the Oral Torah, so that the pasuk does not apply to Rabbi Elisha ben Avuyah or Aher at all.
- But again, why did Rabbi Elisha ben Avuya go off the derekh, as it seems? What happened? Why?
- When Aher passed away, it is written Ki Nakh Nafshe, Aher passed away in a gentler form. Rashi says that this expression is used when a righteous individual passes away. But hold on - you should ask: wasn't he a sinner? Why wasn't a different word used for him, like for example Shekhiv - died, as it says by Dikdukey Soferim? Very legit question, and it should sound an alarm that something is not right here. At least it did for me.
- But we still don't know what made Rabbi Elisa ben Avuyah a sinner? The reason is not mentioned in any of the books, but something we need to find out. Once we understand this, which is somewhat a major part, we will understand the story better.
- Why did Ben Azai die? I know the answer the Gemara has given, but I think there may be another reason.
- What did Ben Zomah mean in his answer to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya? What are those three fingers?
- Rabbi Akiva - He is the only one who came out unscathed from the Pardes, really? I have a lot to say about this.
- And why did these four go to Pardes? Since this knowledge lies within the most advanced realm of Maaseh Merkavah. And someone wants me to believe that a person like Aher, who knows this type of knowledge, GOES OFF THE DEREKH?????
I don't think so, and I don't believe this even for a second! I strongly stand by it and am willing to defend my stance.
Someone told me that I don't have the credentials for rabbis to even consider coming to me. True, I agree with him. I am just a regular guy with too much time on my hands, which I spent on these essays. And amongst these essays, you will find an essay in defense of Bar Kamtza, King David, Exposing Yitro, Eliyahu HaNavi, Moshe hitting the rock, Red Heifer, An Alien Fire, Modesty, and many more topics.
I believe the above essays, which were written and learned over the period of 20 years, are all the credentials required to get the attention of the esteemed rabbis.
And now all I am saying is I have the keys to unlock the issue of Aher. Since this one topic goes so deep and wide, I believe it reveals many aspects of Torah we know in a different light. And just to be politically correct, which I've learned over the years that I can't say that all the opinions expressed to date are wrong, but I will say that my opinion radically differs from everything that has been written to date on this topic. I have been sounding the alarm for years about Aher and other topics, but NO rabbis, the decision-makers, gave me a chance to explain myself. It's no-strings-attached, and I would love the chance.
Shmuel Katanov aka Aher
