Torah Prescribes A Sanitation System
Deuteronomy 23 10 - 15
Someone in the class said, "Moses was the first public health officer"! And in fact this part clearly describes the function and purpose of building a latrine outside of camp. And specifically notes the need to dig a hole and 'cover up your excrement'.
The reason stated in the passage is because 'God moves about in the camp and God should not find anything unseemly'. Now we know there are many more reasons why this is very important.
This passage is, yet another example of a simple and yet practical directive with so much more to it.
Not only does it refer to the latrine specifically but has been extended to keeping the 'camp' (or our community) pure in other ways. We cannot make our place 'filthy' in how we treat each other as well as our sanitation practices. Purity is both in physical cleanliness as well as in our moral code.
A BONUS Rabbi Marder pointed out -
There is a Talmudic interpretation that is a 'pun' of the term for 'gear' I found a good web reference to this:
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
When you encamp against your enemies, be careful to refrain from any wrongdoings.... You should set aside a place outside of the encampment and you should go there [to relieve yourselves]. You should have a shovel ("Yated") in addition to the rest of your equipment ("Azenecha"). When you go out [to "relieve yourselves,] you should dig with it and cover up your excrement. [Do all this,] because Hashem goes in the midst of your encampment to save you and to place your enemies in your power. Your camp must remain holy, lest He see in you a repugnant doing and He will cease helping you.
(Devarim 23:10, 13-14)
Bar Kapara said: What does it mean: "You shall have a "Yated" (shovel or peg) in addition to "Azenecha" (your equipment)? Don't read the word, "Azenecha" but rather "Aznecha" (your ear).
If a person hears something improper being discussed (e.g., Lashon Hara -- slander or gossip), he should place his fingers in his ears. [That is, the verse is hinting that one should use the handy "pegs" Hashem gave him to stop his "ears" from hearing what they shouldn't hear.]
(Ketubot 5a)
Bar Kapara's interpretation of the verse at hand certainly seems bizarre. The end of the verse clearly states that the Yated of the verse is to be used to dig and cover excrement.
How can Bar Kapara interpret this verse as referring to fingers, ears and Lashon Hara?
Secondly, why did Bar Kapara read the word as "Aznecha" against the Massoretic "Azenecha?"
Link: Mordecai Kornfeld Commentary
Someone in the class said, "Moses was the first public health officer"! And in fact this part clearly describes the function and purpose of building a latrine outside of camp. And specifically notes the need to dig a hole and 'cover up your excrement'.
The reason stated in the passage is because 'God moves about in the camp and God should not find anything unseemly'. Now we know there are many more reasons why this is very important.
This passage is, yet another example of a simple and yet practical directive with so much more to it.
Not only does it refer to the latrine specifically but has been extended to keeping the 'camp' (or our community) pure in other ways. We cannot make our place 'filthy' in how we treat each other as well as our sanitation practices. Purity is both in physical cleanliness as well as in our moral code.
A BONUS Rabbi Marder pointed out -
There is a Talmudic interpretation that is a 'pun' of the term for 'gear' I found a good web reference to this:
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
When you encamp against your enemies, be careful to refrain from any wrongdoings.... You should set aside a place outside of the encampment and you should go there [to relieve yourselves]. You should have a shovel ("Yated") in addition to the rest of your equipment ("Azenecha"). When you go out [to "relieve yourselves,] you should dig with it and cover up your excrement. [Do all this,] because Hashem goes in the midst of your encampment to save you and to place your enemies in your power. Your camp must remain holy, lest He see in you a repugnant doing and He will cease helping you.
(Devarim 23:10, 13-14)
Bar Kapara said: What does it mean: "You shall have a "Yated" (shovel or peg) in addition to "Azenecha" (your equipment)? Don't read the word, "Azenecha" but rather "Aznecha" (your ear).
If a person hears something improper being discussed (e.g., Lashon Hara -- slander or gossip), he should place his fingers in his ears. [That is, the verse is hinting that one should use the handy "pegs" Hashem gave him to stop his "ears" from hearing what they shouldn't hear.]
(Ketubot 5a)
Bar Kapara's interpretation of the verse at hand certainly seems bizarre. The end of the verse clearly states that the Yated of the verse is to be used to dig and cover excrement.
How can Bar Kapara interpret this verse as referring to fingers, ears and Lashon Hara?
Secondly, why did Bar Kapara read the word as "Aznecha" against the Massoretic "Azenecha?"
Link: Mordecai Kornfeld Commentary
posted by Chavarah @ 2:49 PM
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