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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>a quirky reading of <EM>kol oto halayla</EM>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>- we learn from the biographies of the five rabbis
involved that each had 'issues' - R. Eliezer refused to acknowledge majority
rule and was excommunicated; R. Joshua was prone to depression ; R. Elazar
ben Azaria, a 'Torah-holic' (see Rambam) looked 70 while still under
20, R. Tarfon risked his life to lie on the highway to say
<EM>Sh'ma </EM>according to Beit Shamai<EM> ; </EM>R. Akiva (possibly
the host of the evening?), a great student and teacher, nonetheless struggled
with militant tendencies that caused 24,000 disciples to die...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>the Talmud (Gittin 43a) says you can only stand in
Torah in the place where you have stumbled - so <EM>oto</EM> could be
'him' instead of 'that' - each participant was telling of his own
redemption.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>okay - a quirky reading - but I like
it!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Debbie Miller</FONT></DIV>
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