Avodah Mailing List

Volume 43: Number 75

Sun, 14 Dec 2025

• 1. The Ram of the Akeida (Sholom Simon)
• 2. Re: Truth, Absolute Truth, Prophecy (Akiva Miller)

>
> Michael Poppers <michaelpopp...@gmail.com> wrote RAMiller asked, "What
> was miraculous about that ram?"


Interestingly enough issues relating to this (tangentially) are on
yesterday's and today's daf!  (Zevachim 85 & 96).  (now how often does this
happen?! <g>)

This paragraph is from a shiur from R Sholom Rosner,
https://alldaf.org/p/42929, starting at around 10:50.  On these dafim, we
learn that certain things that go up on the Mizbeach don't come down
(including "parts" of an animal if it's still attached.  The Ramban asks
the question (R"R said Vayikra 1:9, but I didn't see it there -- might be
user error), referencing the Medrash that the keren was used as a shofar at
Har Sinai, the sinews for the harp of Dovid HaMelech, etc.: how could that
be, when it should have been all burned?  One of Ramban's answers is that
the keren *was* burned, but miraculously was reconstituted by H' (after
all, H' was the one, keveyachol, who blew it).  The Ohr HaChaim (not sure
where) asks the same question (and gives three answers).  The Maharil
Diskin also addresses the question, and notes that the ayil was ancient
(after all it was created at the end of Ma'aseh Bereshis -- and the keren
lasted until Har Sinai).  (Interestingly enough, they all address the
keren, not the other body parts of the ayil that were used).

Nire li - might one suggest that the miracle of the ayil is that it lived
for so long (2000+ yrs) and/or the keren burned and was reconstituted

-- Sholom
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.
R' Meir G. Rabi asked:

> HKBH knows what He's doing
> DON'T MIX IN
> Just do as you're told.
> Why does this not apply to
> Rivkah and YaAkov's meddling
> to gain the blessings from Yitzhak

I presume that "do as you're told" refers to the idea that from HKBH's
perspective, a bechor (Esav) is entitled to certain privileges, such as the
blessings, and that Rivka and Yaakov should not have "mixed in", but rather
should have allowed that to happen as per halacha.

This problem appears in many other situations as well. To me, the above is
very similar to the practice of writing a will (in a halachically
acceptable manner, of course) which has the practical effect of overriding
Hashem's ideas about asset distribution. To state it more clearly: Hashem's
ratzon is that daughters (and certainly outsiders) get nothing from the
estate, and sons get equal portions, except the bechor who gets double. But
what do we do? In RMGR's words, we "mix in" and "meddle" and find a way to
do it differently.

Another example: For over a thousand years, it was assur to write down
Torah Sheb'al Peh. But then the rabbis decided that too much was being
forgotten, so they allowed it. How did they know that Hashem sanctioned
this? Maybe all that forgetting was part of His plan. "HKBH knows what He's
doing"

The answer I've often been given to these questions is "Eis Laasos Lashem",
which might be translated as "The ends justify the means." Admittedly, "Eis
Laasos Lashem" *is* a pasuk in Tehillim, and Chazal understood it to mean
that they DO have the right - obligation, even! - to "mix in" when the
situation requires it.

This is a very powerful dispensation, and could create havoc if misused.
Which is why this power is given only to the top tier of our people, which
would certainly include Rivka Imeinu.

Akiva Miller
.
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