The Holy Heretic - Elisha Ben Avuyah

Rabbi YY Jacobson

The Story of the Greatest Heretic in Jewish History: Elisha Ben Avuyah


"Of all the Rabbis cited in the Talmud, only one became a heretic. His name was Elisha ben Avuya. He was, by all accounts, one of the outstanding Jewish sages of the second-century, a contemporary of Rabbi Akiva and the teacher of Rabbi Meir, the leading scholars of his generation. Elisha moved so far from Jewish tradition that his colleagues stopped referring to him by his name, but rather called him Acher, “the other”, the outcast, the renegade. Only his student Rabbi Meir remained loyal to the man who had once been his master, sought out his company and still believed that he might one day repent." "Against this backdrop we find a deeply moving scene in the Talmud. It is Shabbat, and Elisha ben Abuya is publicly desecrating the holy day by riding on a horse. Walking alongside him is Rabbi Meir. Heretic teacher and faithful disciple travel together along the road arguing and debating Jewish law. Rabbi Meir, the pious Jew, has become so immersed in the conversation that he has not noticed they are nearing the limits beyond which one may not walk on Shabbat. “Acher”, the apostate, realizes this and says: “Meir, turn back. I have measured the distance we have walked by the paces of my horse, and we have reached the Shabbat limit. Beyond here, you are forbidden to walk.”" "Meir replied: “You too turn back.” “I cannot turn back,” says Elisha. “One day I was riding on my horse. It was Yom Kippur, which in that particular year fell on Shabbat. I was roaming behind the Holy of Holies, when I heard a heavenly voice saying: ‘Turn back to me, O lost children, except for Acher... ’” What is the message of this story? That G-d indeed does not forgive all humans who want to repent? That some must truly be condemned forever? This would contradict a fundamental idea in Judaism that nothing stands in the way of repentance." "Furthermore, if G-d did not want Elisha to repent, why did He communicate with him at all? Why did the heavenly voice begin with words of love and encouragement “Turn back to me, O lost children,” and end with the fearful decree “except for Acher”? And why did Rachel name her long-awaited-for son Joseph, so that “G-d may grant me yet another son!” Why not celebrate this child?" "This class will analyze the tragic story of Acher, the mysterious call to him on Yom Kippur, and his misinterpretation of it. It will teach us about the pain and destiny of our own lives, often lost and fragmented."

in English