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I'm writing copy for my website, which at present sucks royally and needs updating because I have customers looking at it (and probably going "ick"). It's a funny job - it's the first time I've actually had to aim copy at an audience to try and convey a particular message in reasonably straightforward terms. I have an extra problem to do with denominations, as well. I want to appeal to an orthodox audience, because I want to be a role-model in the left-wing orthodox community. On the other hand, since most of my trade actually comes from the non-orthodox spectrum, I don't want to alienate that audience either.
Today's Daf-Yomi treasure deals with the behaviours appropriate to a scholar. He shouldn't go out with patched shoes, for example. He shouldn't go out alone at night, unless it is his regular habit to go to a study session. If he makes irregular evening trips, people are going to suspect that he's going whoring. He shouldn't be late to school. He shouldn't walk with a big stride (if you take big steps you'll go blind. The cure is looking at the light of the shabbat candles). He shouldn't hold his head up (because the Holy Spirit stands on your head, and if you hold your head up, it's like you're trying to push it off).
He shouldn't talk to a woman in the marketplace (including his wife, sister, or daughter, because people might get the wrong idea). Well, in a society that doesn't like women, I can see that. He also shouldn't have meals with boors, and again, in a society that values scholarship, I see that. The fascinating bit is how the gemara takes these opinions, which are a relatively early source, and discusses them - because it accepts without question the idea that he shouldn't talk to women, but questions the necessity of his not eating with boors. J thinks:!?
The best bit, though, is where it says he shouldn't go out wearing perfume (he's allowed to wear deodorant). It refines its statement at once, and says - he may not wear perfume in the gay district. It really says that!
Can we say taking things a bit too far?
Today's Daf-Yomi treasure deals with the behaviours appropriate to a scholar. He shouldn't go out with patched shoes, for example. He shouldn't go out alone at night, unless it is his regular habit to go to a study session. If he makes irregular evening trips, people are going to suspect that he's going whoring. He shouldn't be late to school. He shouldn't walk with a big stride (if you take big steps you'll go blind. The cure is looking at the light of the shabbat candles). He shouldn't hold his head up (because the Holy Spirit stands on your head, and if you hold your head up, it's like you're trying to push it off).
He shouldn't talk to a woman in the marketplace (including his wife, sister, or daughter, because people might get the wrong idea). Well, in a society that doesn't like women, I can see that. He also shouldn't have meals with boors, and again, in a society that values scholarship, I see that. The fascinating bit is how the gemara takes these opinions, which are a relatively early source, and discusses them - because it accepts without question the idea that he shouldn't talk to women, but questions the necessity of his not eating with boors. J thinks:!?
The best bit, though, is where it says he shouldn't go out wearing perfume (he's allowed to wear deodorant). It refines its statement at once, and says - he may not wear perfume in the gay district. It really says that!
Can we say taking things a bit too far?
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