tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post1105103402425725855..comments2024-03-28T21:21:02.777-04:00Comments on Divrei Chaim: the fiery shekelChaim B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02231811394447584320noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-82648854531208214312011-03-07T21:54:43.317-05:002011-03-07T21:54:43.317-05:00Elokim asah es ha'adam yashar -- that's th...Elokim asah es ha'adam yashar -- that's the common stamp.<br /><br />Re: tzelem Elokim - you can't ask why Jews have a tzelem Elokim and non-Jews don't because it's a tautology. The Jewish nation is by definition those children of Adam who retained their tzelem Eloki aspect after original sin as opposed to the rest of Adam's children that went in a different direction and lost that gift (see Derech Hashem II:4).Chaim B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02231811394447584320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-6932482755574232522011-03-07T19:21:51.474-05:002011-03-07T19:21:51.474-05:00Among other things, there is a clear chazal that: ...Among other things, there is a clear chazal that: Atem k'ruyim Adam, v'ain umos ha'olam k'ruyim Adam.<br /><br />The mekubalim, as well as the Kuzari among others, understand that the chet of Adam Harishon diminished man, and only Bnei Yisroel managed to climb back to the level of b'zelem.great unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-30553824460351469322011-03-07T17:30:53.176-05:002011-03-07T17:30:53.176-05:00in bereshis where Gd created Man (not jew, but Man...in bereshis where Gd created Man (not jew, but Man) it says "b'tzelem elokim bara otam." that implies that all humans have a tzelem elokim. not sure why the rishonim would have a consensus against pshat?arijesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04054624664476807741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-40209899986693996172011-03-04T19:53:29.069-05:002011-03-04T19:53:29.069-05:00> Steven: does a non-Jew have a Tzelem Elokim?
...> Steven: does a non-Jew have a Tzelem Elokim?<br /><br />I thought you might ask that! I wasn't familar with the tosafos yomtov you cite -- thanks for that, I'll try to look it up (assuming it's on R. Akiva re: chavivin adam ...)<br /><br />However, does that matter for our purposes? The sfas emes is talking about Jews (givers of the half shekel). I think it's a nice idea that donating a uniform coin symbolizes that we all come from a common "stamp" of tzelem elokim. Some may see this as specific to Jews and others as general to humanity, but either way I think the drasha works.<br /><br />On reflection, your point of lapesach chatas rovetz works for this too. Perhaps not exactly what the sfas emes had in mind, but maybe the half shekel reminds us of our common *limitations* as mere mortals. Other acharonim -- e.g. my favorite is the klei yakar near the beginning of parshas Teruma -- have suggested that the uniform half shekel is an antidote to the pride/ga'ava that sometimes comes with flashier donations.<br /><br />Shabbat ShalomStevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14371365602074869132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-25250958066959435602011-03-04T14:25:19.450-05:002011-03-04T14:25:19.450-05:00Steven: does a non-Jew have a Tzelem Elokim?
Even...Steven: does a non-Jew have a Tzelem Elokim?<br /><br />Even the oft-quoted Tosefet Yom Tov in Avos <br />a) admits that the consensus of opinion among the rishonim is that they don't - although he doesn't understand why <br />and <br />b) claims they have the potential for a Tzelem Elokim, and they should strive to attain it. But they certainly do not have one now.great unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-27326407284041320452011-03-04T14:09:23.434-05:002011-03-04T14:09:23.434-05:00How about Tzelem Elokim. (which is also closely r...How about Tzelem Elokim. (which is also closely related to the concept of the matbe'a used by God in creating mankind.)Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14371365602074869132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-87344913765194376112011-03-03T22:12:33.453-05:002011-03-03T22:12:33.453-05:00I follow up to the last line, where you say "...I follow up to the last line, where you say "common goodness." Where did the "goodness" come from? <br /><br />The only universal common characteristic guaranteed is "lapesach chatas rovaitz."great unknownnoreply@blogger.com