Megalith Rut | Rabbi Shai Finkelstein

Um you know what maybe you can uh just take uh oh you can we can do it all to you can haveim in front of you um and we will talk a bit about me. Oh okay that was the plan also with the but no maybe next week. Okay. Um if you want you can just take aim. If not it's really we will read the sukim and we can analyze it together but if you want it's all yours and um okay so when you think about meat many things come to mind and many that you I'm sure you already heard so many times about meat and why is it important and what's the connection to uh to shave and to David okay I think this is not what I want to talk to you about um I want to talk about uh really the beginning. Let's talk about the beginning of the megah. So it says like that. Okay. What I would like to do is uh really it's a teaser for what I'm going to do on Le Shàuot between Mina and Mar here like prior to the uh but it's a it's a teaser for almost every story in Tanakh. Sometimes when you read Tanak and you see it as a entire picture, you see the entire picture, you see that there are many that are very similar to each other or the story is being staged in contradiction or as a complimentary story to something that was already in a different story. And it obviously begs the question of okay why is it why do they use the almost the same wording or the same expressions what's the connection between this story and the other story. So I had something interesting that I will share with in two weeks or whatever it is. Uh but today let's see and let's uh let's do it together. Okay let's uh let's do an exercise. The word we all know has something to say about the word. Okay. So, but we have two things here when the judges are being judged. Okay, that's interesting. But I am more interested in Okay, trivia question. When is the first time we know about Abraham? We learned it together, right? And with with putting in denture and basically when you have what do you do? Go to another land. You go to another land, right? Abraham went to Mitsim and we had the discussion if he did the right thing or or not the right thing. Okay, that's one. Second is there was another famine at the time of one by one plan to go to or toem says to him what you stay here right so basically the natural reaction of of famine in the land is what do you do you leave now we know based on we know that when there is famine Where did our leaders went to? Usually, right? Now, why? It might be because it was closer. Maybe it was enough food there. They could hear that there is food. Okay. Even then later on with Ysef when there is a famine inan says I heard that there are some supplies in so you should go there. Okay. here. You would expect But he goes to where? Now it's also interesting with um it says does it say no? He goes there to buy food, eat some food and and then come home. Here is lagu. Now, interestingly enough, it's also biz moav. What is demo moav in the fields of moav? You would expect lag beav in the country the name moav where the moabites are. So, we see something interesting and this is without any commentary not nothing just to read the narrative itself. When you look at the narrative itself, what comes to mind is there ish is always a language of okay the word is or even the says which is that's what the gra talks about. So you have an important person who leaves the country and he is from do you hear the cynicism here? Not talking about the street here a house of bread and there is famine and he goes to whereav now the first association that comes to mind when we talk about moav is what? Lo, load and z. Okay. So, first we have we know the origin of the name. Not exactly something that we are so very proud of. Okay. And by the way, she had zero embarrassment. The second daughter at least called him Ammon. Okay. So, when you ask who is the father, you say Hammon, but that's a but with her she was very direct. May of this is from my father. So that's the first association. What's the second association that we know with Muav? They didn't come out to us. They didn't come out to give bread and food to us. Why would you expect us expect them to do it? Cuz they related. They're related. They are related. That's your expectations from everyone you are related to. You want to go through their country. You want to conquer. They think that you want to conquer them. Why would you expect them to give you coffee, tea, and cold drinks? This is transactional. Oh, maybe it's some kind of misar, right? Some destroy them. The what? They don't want you to destroy them. They don't want you to destroy them. Explain a bit. Otherwise, watch out. Ah, okay. Okay. Okay. Very good. So basically, but we were disappointed that they did not give us food and water. Now, not every Jew, but my assumption is the Jews at that time, they didn't know Mishna and Gumra. You know why? didn't exist yet. So they knew some of the stories of the traditions and I would assume that this tradition of at least Bil the magician who was hired by Balak Melik Mo and this entire story is a a known story in the tradition. Okay? Why? Because it's a nice story. It's a beautiful story. I'm sure it passed on by generations. So if there is famine, where would you go? you go to a nation that even when they had the opportunity to do something nice never did it why would you go there so it's odd it's very strange so you see that there is some kind of a contrast between poverty famine and then you go to and moto so he goes with his wife and his two children now before We continue also the I will say the structure of the sentence is also a bit odd. It should have said probably is you see what's going on here. It's the ish he makes the decision to because of the famine to leave to find the location for dwelling and then it seems to be that his wife and his children are what they go like they take alone what we call in Hebrew nigim they it seems to be that the puk is like crying out saying to you what they didn't want to do it but he's the father of the family he's the whatever is the balabite okay he makes those decisions and definitely he didn't suffer from self from low self-esteem is is okay now interestingly enough even if I don't know anything about meilot I would ask myself rea is that the only family that left or many people left and just we pick on that family because of the story or just he left what would you say based on the puk itself it sounds like he was the only one. It seems to be that that was the anomaly like the Tanak highlighted this idea. So basically what is the Tanakh trying to highlight for us that there is an important man from Yehuda the association is what leadership royalty all of that and he leaves and he goes he family he wife his wife and two of his children. Okay. Good catch. Very good. When you say almost like which means there is somewhat of importance but also a beginning of something. Very good. By the way, as a side note, when you have time, and I would assume you have time, um, take the Tanak without any and try to see what the can tell you and then you can look at the many of the things that comes up are in the Okay, second Okay. So now we have the name of the person which is interesting like why do you spend another sentence? You could say but we don't do it. We first start with like an introduction. There is an ish and then take a look at the names. His name is El. I can imagine what the mo says at the giving of the name. May God be with him. He will be a king. He will be a king of God. God will bestow blessings upon his. This is a meaningful name. Elik. It's not. Okay. It's so this is a really really wonderful name. Naomi what Naomi comes to brings to mind I read somewhere that all the names in are not really names that were actually given to the people these are names that come to teach us something. So every name is comes with some kind of a so seems to be there is a potential for kingship and for God and what is pleasant pleasant right seems to it's pleasant okay every time it says me whatever it's pleasant so you have a king with God or God's king and his wife is now me and you would think that the children's names will be I don't know Mashiaon but the names means destruction okay is a okay it's like a disease plague the is destruction total annihilation like in the most severe way so it might be that those names were given to them after what's happened to them Or alternatively, when elim saw what's going on in Israel and then he had his children, he says, "What? This is the end of us. We are done." Anyone who everyone who was on the my Monday night, Monday night was yesterday. Yeah, Monday night was last night. Monday night about the dry bones of the vision of understand that sometimes you have people who say what hopeless we are done and in order to illustrate it I'm going to call my children's name says gam or alternatively based on the future like we know for example we know was named for the future pelleg Okay. So sometimes you give a name based on some kind of a prophecy. Okay. Ah not only had another question. So we what? Who else was called? What does it mean? Elana. Okay. What do we know about Ela? He went obviously. His wife's name who we don't care about so much about his wife's name was and that gave us okay it's also nice but we are interested in the and gave us Sha and David. Not that he was their father but he appointed them to be kings. Okay. So the word is is okay. It's more elitistic group. And it's interesting that it says now it's like the entire gang and then they came to interesting he came and they come to what is to be like that's going to be basically our place we are done with Israel we relo relocated this is the right We relocated now we live in. So it's interesting the Torah even init right is from the word some kind of is to be there. There is a word but uh not sure that it's used in not sure. Okay. Yes. say left because he wanted to do better for his family. He had he looked into the future and he he felt there's going to be food there. If he's looking back, his family's going to die here. There's nothing to eat. The problem is that that that really the question was maybe we just put it such a negative spin. Maybe it's a good spin. The guy saw there is famine. There is no way that I can feed my family. I'm leaving. The problem is, and that relates to one of my questions before, it seems to be that this is the only family that left. Now, you can be the smartest guy ever and all of them are dummies and they will stay and die and I'll save myself. However, we know that there is an idea of doing things together as a B, it says there was famine in the land. I don't know how many years and I don't know how tough it was. I mean we know that when Elao for example decreed famine people died. It was it was terrible. So I don't know how many years there was famine. Um Kazal trying to figure out when exactly because we know Sephim. Okay. And we need to know when exactly there was famine there. So maybe there if it was a famine for 3 weeks and he lo lose hope and he leaves he's a terrible person. If it's three years of famine and he's trying and he's trying, you know, maybe we can come up with some kind of a positive spin. However, it seems to be that he is the one and an important person you leave. You definitely create an impact. Refers say but I read over again. We read it carefully the entire family. In other words, originally said you read it again all the same family but you sham not just children him also. by you which means the strange it's not going to be there long. That they will be there long. You say not who said it. Ah you saying oh um so I would just say I'll take you in a sec. I would just say that it seems to be which means we just came temporarily. But not only that, you remember what is the says about meaning they became part of society. Mame. So now we have another proof that Vayusham is they dwell there. Yes. But was he like a leader of his community? The others were poor. They're coming to him. We need your help. We need this. We know he's wealthy. His sons married princesses. That's it. So, but I mean, it's like enough of these people. This place is going nowhere. I'm out of here. I want to be in a better society. I don't want the responsibility of being a leader. Like, you have people now like Prince Harry, you know, we don't want to be part of the royal nation anymore. We're done with it. So, they just leave and give up their responsibility. Okay. So h again why not to put a positive spin like maybe he was enough he he supported his community for a year okay and they are nudnikim and they come again and again he says you know what must speak die enough I'm leaving probably we expect more we expect more yes one more and he didn't go to is not depending on is exactly like it is depending Therefore, he went from he didn't go to a better place. Okay. So, geographically now again we are not sure exactly where is a red basket in the east whole area. So that's right. So that's what we mentioned at the beginning but also the comment was why would you go to a place that is basically also heavily dependent on rain when you have mits which has the Nile River and they are they never suffer from I don't know if they never suffer but they don't suffer as much as others. Okay. So okay one more vis my office hours are only tomorrow is structured and if he's the only one leaving then it shows he doesn't have no that's what I think prompt the rabbis to look at him in such a it's such a negative way and I do appreciate that they attempt to try to shed some positive light on him but it seems seems to be that from the fact that we highlighted this family and this guy who initiated everything it's okay so now let's go so he dies and it's only him her sorry now me and and Mahon and Kion so they're not married yet what would you expect them to do go back home go Home. Go home. Especially if they were dragged there. Go home. You have a family supporting. No. Yes. I think shearing the what? I think was embarrassing. Oh, so before the the speculations rea. So they decided to stay. We will need to understand why did they decide to stay. But it's not only that they decided to stay. They decided to what to integrate into the Moabat society. They basically wrote a bill of divorce to AI is they are not going back. They are not interested in going back. I don't know exactly the dynamic between the children and no me but they Yeah. Yeah. We can go world by I need to move on a bit. I I agree with you. Yes. Can we can have a question on on each one of them. Um so we don't know anything about I know what say I'm just I don't not talking about now. First the word association First in Torah, when I want to describe marriage, what word do I use? Okay, wait one second. I just need to see if there if the wording is the same. the what? Um, look at it says even without not Jewish. So that's not the issue. The issue is that there are two issues. The word is like okay you know what is you remember the she is the one to what to take it for him meaning she is the one to make the here is they are the ones to make the decision to what to marry the one is Oprah. Now, the word Oprah, I don't think that was her name. Okay. And also Ruth, we're not sure that that was her name. It's definitely doesn't sound like a I mean, I don't speak Moabitete, but I don't think it sounds Moabitete. Uh, but okay. So, or so immediately the thing is or now or what is the association with or which means what? stubborn but also it's a good quality that we have. We will never be able to survive without it. It's annoying but it helps us to survive. What is root? Okay. So the has something to say about it but in terms of the association don't know anything about they dwell there almost 10 for almost 10 years. So they both die. Now we need to ask why doesn't he say now the same thing that we say is we might say that what is also and she is strong and she is important. So she is alone but only her daughters-in-law. And here the beginning of the transformation. Yes. Why did they die? We don't know. We don't know. Heart attack. I know really leave Kazal. I know why they die according to Kazal. Leave Kazal. I mean we obviously love Kazal but I'm saying leave them alone. Now let's read the fact that the Torah does not say anything. that does not say anything. It's probably not important for example withan because that's the immediate association when you have two children die. So who what the who lost two children? Yehuda and right with both of them we have semi explanation with with here they died they didn't play any role they died so she's alone now it's pretty simple that what that what would she She'll go back. She has nothing. So, she will definitely go back. What about the daughters-in-law? The most natural thing for them to do what? Go home, too. So she rise with her daughters-in-law and she comes back from because she heard while she was in that hashem what remembered his arm his nation to give them bread. Now rea when did she hear? Did she hear at the end of the 10th year or she heard it already in the third year but she couldn't leave? Why? Because her boys because of her sons or because of the father or because meaning she wanted to but she was not able to or she basically did not want to move either but because she heard that what there is food there too. So you know what why should I be a foreigner here? I'll go back to my nation to my country. So that's interesting. What does it mean that she left the place that she was there? This is such a crooked way to say here I'm going to be What does it mean? Yeah. The what? Oh yeah. Okay. Reminds you. Okay. The word shama there is no zebat. Now when we say what she added like oh so you need to create some kind of a similar obviously when she goes is right if it would say let's erase this So what does it mean? She in a way got rid of the place. She didn't want to she did not want to be the not not only geographically but also psychologically, emotionally, whatever you want to call it. If I was a teenager, I would say like so where did they go? They didn't go through space. They went where else do we have? What is the idea of a process on the road which means it's just the beginning of some kind of a journey going back to which that's what they know that's their place. So they are walking together and she at least believes that what that she can be taken care of with her family with her. Okay. So Nami says to two of her two the two daughter-in-laws go return which is obviously repetitive. go and return a woman to her mother's house and Hashem will do with you like you did with the dead people and with me. What is she talking about? So probably the fact that they stayed with her while their husbands died and their father-in-law died. So maybe that's what she meant. Um or maybe something else that they did some kind of with her. I don't I don't know what. But he basically says, but she says basically, Hashem can repay you for what you did. The what? Funny way of saying it. Said, "My dead son, why don't you say you did it with with my children?" So maybe with my children while they were alive. She wanted to say that even after they died, they stayed with her. Instead, the first thing that they will do, who wants to stay with his mother-in-law when there is no reason for that, right? So basically they what they ma that was quick. Just said it quickly. I just passed over and no one said a poop. No one said anything. So yes, she's saying thank you very much for taking care of me all these years. And now go back to what country and it's time for you to go back to the ocean. Yeah. That the only question is what exactly what kind of exactly did she do? They did they do? Yes. Sounds like cancer on the way. The what? That the idea of they should go back. I didn't think this when they left. Oh, okay. Good. There is a very interesting point. They both stand up together three and they start walking in the D. She says to herself, "Wow, what am I going to take care of them? They should go home." Yes. Oh, just interesting. They don't mention how long they were there when the sons died. No. That they didn't have any children. Many details, right? You would think since they write so many details, they might Exactly. The question not for today is why obvious details that you would think will be written there are skipped over and then some other details that you can go to sleep tonight without worrying about them are there. Okay. So it's not only what's there but it's also what's not there. Yes. Very important idea. Every time it says a new beginning and she's not including that in it. It just says It's just singular. So, she's thinking about herself that this is what she has to do. Okay, hold that thought for just a second. I hope I'm going to burst your bubble. Okay, so just a second. Now, not yours. All of you about perception on [Music] me. Hashem will find for you rest and everyone will find a husband. and she kissed them and they all cried together and it sounds like Nomi really deeply care for them right I can't take care of you you should be taking care of go I don't think about myself right many people read it in a way that Nomi is so altruistic and she really cares about them and it might be that Nomi says to herself I can't take care of them I'm embarrassed by them I don't want them they a constant reminder for my dead children and for the women that they took. I don't want them. Let them go back. Let me start again. And that's and not but rather she basically raise herself up and then no go home. You don't need to come with me. Now let's continue. No, no, no. Interesting the word. It seems to be that they know where she comes from and they are somewhat attracted to the fact that she is from AmI is which is interesting. There was not too much of a love between Moav and Israel ever in Tanakh. And uh they say we want to go not just to go with you but to your nation which means we understand we will need to what to act like your nation now she talks to them as now my daughters why would you go with me what's the benefit I want to have children and they you will marry them you have I cannot provide you anything. Do you see the the um the change? The beginning it says now it says whatna. Okay. Obviously we understand that one is a more of a geographical topographical return and one is just emotional emotional psychological or even might be even religiously. Meaning it might be that when they married Mah and Kon they converted somehow and in a way Nomi says to them release it leave it go go go home just you will never fit move back I'm not going to get married again because if I would I would tell you maybe maybe I will get pregnant you can have children Okay. She says to them, "Look, I'm not going to get pregnant, but even if I would, what do you want to wait another 13, 14, 15, 16 years until I will have children? Until they they will be able to marry you or leave it alone. Go home." But then she says, "Ali, please, my daughters, now daughter-in-laws, but daughters, please don't n me anymore. I'm bitter. I am very bitter from from you. What does it mean? Your presence makes me good. Okay. One interpretation. Your presence is not exactly enjoyable. Okay. The what? The what? Because of you. Because of you. This is horrible. She's a I'm not saying that this is the own interpretation. I want to understand the ambiguity in the puk. You say what is mikm? If I want to say I look at you and I'm bitter and I'm sad. It should say what because you are widows. If I want to say that it's almost like because of you, I might say not that it's the only way to say it. So you can interpret it in two ways or if my children would not marry you, I was maybe will they maybe will still be alive or maybe I will be able to convince them look you can't find any girls here. Let's go home. So you in a way are the reason and the cause for my bitterness and for my sadness. And then there is another one. No, I look at you and my heart cringe. Nice daughters, nice daughtersin-law. You were great to my children and I'm so sad that this is the situation with you. You are young widows and I'm telling you there is no hope in Israel for you. No one is going to look at you. Go home. different interpretations that's the ambiguity of yes also that I am more I mean negative situation then say not more depressed I'm more sad than you are you don't need to be around ah okay that's a very nice psychological modern uh meaning I'm in such a mental state that it's not going to help you go away Meaning I'm I'm a bad influence. I'm a bad influence. I can't give you tikva at all. Not physically, not spiritually, not emotionally, not psychologically. Okay. Interesting. Do you see how many interesting views we can have on the beginning? And then [Music] um interesting. I'm just thinking about association. What does it mean more? The natif says that after what did giving the signs he loved even more because of what she did with from what she did to okay. Um, oh first association is what is famously always says no me feels like Job. She lost everything. She lost her husband. She lost her children. She has no children. She has no money probably. M um so she she understand that that's some kind of a punishment. So you have a woman who lost everything and she feels that what it's a punishment for something that was done. Now what did she do? What can what can we blame her for? What what can we accuse her for not doing something? She wasn't proactive. Was not proactive. Very good. She like a good Mommy, if she thinks that what it's not the right place for us, what do we do? You woke up and you wake up and you tell your husband later. But he's a control freak. She couldn't. She he you know what? But after he died, after he died, she has two unmarried children. Take them by take them by the hand and return. Take them home. By the way, she corrected her personality a bit. When you see when the story evolve, she becomes very proactive. She sends root. This is the the field of our relative and then you dress up, you go to the shower, you put a perfume, you go, you tell him, you don't tell him. She's very proactive. Things change. It's very interesting to see how the megila changed the heroes and changed personalities. But maybe she couldn't be proactive while her husband wasn't after he's gone. The two children are not married. You are the you are quote unquote the bot. Okay. So they raise their voices and they continue to cry. Nope. If we stop here. So root gave her a big kiss, big hug, and she went back and what they say and root. Now it's interesting. First and foremost, if you don't know the story, who is the most logical person here? She showed love. She showed commitment. She was told three times, "Go home." and she realized, "No, me is right. So, I need to go back." So, I need to give her a kiss. And that's the last time I'm going to see her probably. You could say she stayed with her and went with her. What is devka? Very strong connection. That's the word of de glue. She glued herself to her. She attached herself to her. Now that's obviously very strong connection. Now where else do we have the word? Oh the first time we have this they become one. Becomes one with no me. And that's a very early stage root makes that decision for whatever reason we don't know to stick to stick to glue herself to know me. Yes. You see that they have converted in order to marry a valid conversion. But if afterwards after the death they she then decides to stay and follows all the commandments then retroactively the conversion is probably okay. So here we see that she's now a Jewish mother. The only thing is where exactly they converted in Moav, right? Unless they did it on Zoom which was fine. So yes, I can't hear you at this point. You don't know you haven't seen no as being. Oh, thank you very much. You led me to my next sentence. You know if I will tell you I am going to groom myself to okay he's an isute he's a personality he is a scholar he's not a scholar but he's such a good person that I okay what do we know about Nami Gishm gnish nothing no personality no ability to speak up no influence on the family even with one iota Why would you glue yourself to a loser? Sorry. What a description. You can tell me where no me exactly is a winner. In this she is but not today. Today you'll go home and you will say Rabbi Shai said that Naomi is not the greatest personality. I don't know. So the thing is she has nothing to show for the mothers in Tanak makes a decision a historical decision. Ishmael should go away. She has a fight with she has a fight with Abraham. Hashem has to intervene. She can't speak up exactly but she manipulates everything. Rael goes to Jacob. She says goes to and she says Everyone can speak up. Speaks up. Everyone speaks up. Every mother knew how to speak up. No mel. Maybe because she was losing. Who told you that? She felt she felt sorry. Maybe she felt that she want she wanted to stay with her because she was Oh, interesting. Yeah. Maybe because Ruth felt that Nomi is a basket case. What do you call her? I mean, she she lost her husband. She lost two of her children. She has no grandchildren. She has nothing. Who knows how she's going to be accepted in Israel. Ruth says, you know what? I'm taking care of her. Meaning because of what? Of the feelings of oh my gosh, she's a misa mish ma. Who is going to look at her? And she herself, by the way, Nomi says to herself to to to them, I'm old. No one is going to marry me. I'm not going. Basically, I'm going to die alone. So Ruth says to herself, I can't I can't do that. I can't allow her to be alone. I am going to be there. So it's not because of her personality, but exactly because of her lack of personality. Yeah. Ruth felt bad and she took care, you know, a case, you know, what do you call it? What do you know what I'm talking about? Yes. Who wrote Ruth? It depends who you ask. It depends who you ask. If you ask is if you ask, it's not but it was around the second temple which Mo obviously was hundreds of years before. Yes. that she really wants to see people. Oh, it might be. The only thing is why do you want to go with Nomi? Because she's the representative in this hotel. And what kind of But ask yourself what kind of a of a representative is she? What? She has an Israeli flag on her door. Like what does she have? Clums. Right. Until this, that's where we are now. Let's continue. Oh, wow. We're No, I need to stop now. No. No. I think they told me to stop at 110, but I don't I don't I don't listen to them. They don't listen to me. I send them. They I don't listen to them. So, let's do one more puk and then we will conclude because we have Minha. So, Oh, you know what? No, because of Minha, we need to conclude. Okay. You know what? I think next week I'm not sure if we need associates or not. We will have them. Why not? But uh we'll have