In this shiur Rabbi Triebitz brings more evidence for the points that he made in last week’s shiur. He shows how the purpose of the midos, and particularly gezeira shava, is to create a new text. Not only does gezeira shava create new meaning within the words, but it also frees up other words that would have been used for those halachos so that new laws can be learnt from them.

Perhaps this is the real meaning of the concept of ‘black fire on white fire’ mentioned in the midrash as the primal Torah.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/13midos/m13_06.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 06

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Thirteen Midos 06
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Rabbi Triebitz learns a couple of gemaras with Rishonim demonstrating that the midos are not simply logical constructs but the creation of a new Judaic text.

The difference between Hellenistic thinking and Jewish thinking is that the former is logical, philosophical, whereas the latter is textural.

Rabbi Triebitz shows this by learning Rishonim on Bava Kama 6a, Bava Metziah 3b and Bava Metzia 61a. In addition he brings a Yerushalmi on Berachos, a Ran in Nedarim and many other sources.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

Apologies for the poor quality of the video. The audio is fine.

[flv:/13midos/m13_05.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 05

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Thirteen Midos 05
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Thirteen Midos 05

Rabbi Triebitz learns a couple of gemaras with Rishonim demonstrating that the midos are not simply logical constructs but the creation of a new Judaic text.

The difference between Hellenistic thinking and Jewish thinking is that the former is logical, philosophical, whereas the latter is textural.

Rabbi Triebitz shows this by learning Rishonim on Bava Kama 6a, Bava Metziah 3b and Bava Metzia 61a. In addition he brings a Yerushalmi on Berachos, a Ran in Nedarim and many other sources.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

Apologies for the poor quality of the video. The audio is fine.

[flv:/13midos/m13_05.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 05

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Thirteen Midos 05
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Thirteen Midos 05

This shiur is a refutation of those (Daube and Lieberman) who argue that the midos of Hillel (and Rabbi Yishmael) are derived from Hellenistic oratory techniques. Rabbi Triebitz argues that the Greeks and Romans had similar techniques, but that their’s were based on logic. The midos, on the other hand, begin with logic, but also include a non-logical component (or dimension), which was the innovation of Hillel.

Rabbi Triebitz also discusses Rav Tzadok HaCohen’s idea that whenever there is a paradigm shift in Judaism we find a similar paradigm shift amongst the non-Jewish nations of the world. This idea can be found in many places of Rav Tzadok, including Resisei Laila, Pri Tzadik, Tzidkus ha-Tzadik (and also here) and Takanas Ha-Shavin.

The shiur also contains a discussion of Gittin 41b and the Ritva’s commentary there, which demonstrates the two dimensionality of the midos, and the difference between a hekesh and a gzeira shava.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is. You can also see me at this beautiful jewish center on occasion go to kehilathanahar.org.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

You can now download a transcription of this shiur as a pdf:

Thirteen Midos Shiur 04 Transcription

[flv:/13midos/m13_04.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 04

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Thirteen Midos 04

This shiur begins with an analysis of Bava Kama 83b-84a. Rabbi Triebitz then shows how the Nimukei Yosef supports what Rabbi Triebitz said last week – that every g’zeira shava is based upon a hekesh.

There are parallels to the Talmud in Sotah 33a

Rabbi Triebitz then goes on to discover the reason and purpose for the development of the 13 midos (at least g’zeira shava) and suggests that it is a response to the Sadducees and their attacks on Pharasaic Judaism.

This series has so far been probably the best one yet – at least in my opinion. Today’s shiur is equally excellent.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

You can now download a transcription of this shiur as a pdf:

Thirteen Midos Shiur 03 Transcription

[flv:/13midos/m13_03.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 03

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Thirteen Midos 03
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Thirteen Midos 03