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hatam_soferet Apr. 26th, 2004 09:41 pm)
hatam_soferet Apr. 26th, 2004 09:41 pm)Has this troubled anyone else lately? Why on earth should a new mother bring a sin-offering? What has she done wrong? People usually say it's because she's imitated God by doing an act of creation, which is just so unconvincing - why on earth would God make it a sin to reproduce? Other people say it's about ancient taboos on giving birth, which is probably true, but not particularly useful to me today.
Shimon bar Yochai's students were troubled by this too - Niddah 31b:
שאלו תלמידו את רבי שמעון בר יוחי מפני אמרו תורה יולדת מביאה קרבן
His students asked R. Shimon bar Yochai: Why does a woman who has given birth have to bring a sacrifice?
אמר להם בשעה שכורעת לילד קופצת ונשבעת שלא תזקק לבעלה, לפיכך אמרה תורה תביה קרבן
He said to them: At the time she is kneeling in birth, she protests and vows that she will never sleep with her husband again. (You have to know that the penalty for a false vow is a sacrifice.) On account of this, the Torah decreed that she should bring a sacrifice.
I like this so, so much better than being told that the only way that a system of divine law can perpetuate itself is by breaking said divine law. A system that requires its law to be disregarded in order to survive doesn't deserve much respect. Go Shimon bar Yochai!
Shimon bar Yochai's students were troubled by this too - Niddah 31b:
שאלו תלמידו את רבי שמעון בר יוחי מפני אמרו תורה יולדת מביאה קרבן
His students asked R. Shimon bar Yochai: Why does a woman who has given birth have to bring a sacrifice?
אמר להם בשעה שכורעת לילד קופצת ונשבעת שלא תזקק לבעלה, לפיכך אמרה תורה תביה קרבן
He said to them: At the time she is kneeling in birth, she protests and vows that she will never sleep with her husband again. (You have to know that the penalty for a false vow is a sacrifice.) On account of this, the Torah decreed that she should bring a sacrifice.
I like this so, so much better than being told that the only way that a system of divine law can perpetuate itself is by breaking said divine law. A system that requires its law to be disregarded in order to survive doesn't deserve much respect. Go Shimon bar Yochai!