Chanuka 5767

News Update from the Etta Kossowsky Fund

Dear Friend,

The purpose of the Chanuka update is, as usual, to report on the learning in the eight Etta Kossowsky study groups around the country. Here are comments from some of the participants:

‘…our discussions often lead us to looking in other parts of the Tenach, Talmud and Siddur. I would say that our survey of Yeshayahu has been the most challenging; often just finding the pshat meaning of the words takes an enormous effort. But as we have grown more used to his language and themes, the rewards have grown. In addition at times we have digressed into meta-Biblical type studies (a member gave a few shiurim on Robert Alter’s book on Biblical narrative) and into more historical overviews’. ( Jerusalem )

‘We are learning the text called Pirkei de Rabbi Eliezer, a midrash composed in the 8th century. We have studied several chapters on the Garden of Eden narrative, also the biography of the putative author, Eliezer ben Hyrkanos. We have explored the relationship between PRE and the ‘sefarim hitzonim’ and discussed the pseudepigraphic nature of the work. The women all bring their own book, comparing PRE with some of the classical midrashim on the same Biblical passage. There is much lively discussion’ ( Jerusalem ).

‘The Nofei Aviv women’s shiur has been focusing on the Sefer HaChinuch. We are currently on mitzvah 116 in Sefer Vayikra. It has been very interesting to learn about mitzvoth in depth and to relate them to issues relevant to us to-day. We occasionally digress to connect the shiur to events such as Tisha be Av, the Yamim Noraim or to Parshat haShavua.

[re Judges, ch.9, Yotham’s parable of the trees that refused to be king, except for the ‘atad’, the bramble] ‘Noga Hareuveni, the founder of Neot Kedumim, brings a most original explanation: the ‘atad’ might not be a lowly bramble, as everyone in the world thinks, but a large, shade-giving, small-fruit bearing, thorny tree – which makes the parable instantly comprehensible. If the ‘atad’ is like this, Yotam is seen to mix praise for Avimelech with veiled threats and warnings about him. Hareuveni brings Marc Antony’s speech about Brutus as an example of this kind of subtle yet strong rhetoric’ (Modi’in)

‘Our group in Bet Shemesh has just started tackling the Siddur. Beginning with Rambam’s credo behind the poetry of Yigdal and the formula of the ‘beracha’ and the practice of ‘netilat yadayim’, we hope to try to understand the function and format as well as the awesome power of ‘tefila’ as the tool that guides our relationship with the Almighty’.

‘Our Gemara group, led by Rabbi Silberg has embarked on Qiddushin. We are currently getting to grips with the connection between redeeming a Canaanite slave, the sale of a field, the role of an ‘arev’ and the validity of a woman’s betrothal. The intellectual challenge is enjoyed by all – and there are often more women than can fit easily around the large table’.

The date of the Etta Kossowsky annual Memorial Evening is February 10th, motzaei Shabbat. We very much hope that you will be able to join us.

Our many thanks once again to everyone who supports our learning.

Esther Ehrman