tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post1632440869099898124..comments2024-03-05T21:22:43.426-05:00Comments on parshablog: How many are the days of your life, as question or exclamation?joshwaxmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03516171362038454070noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-19012455252955210472010-06-06T07:51:34.526-04:002010-06-06T07:51:34.526-04:00i would add that any time Ibn Caspi refers to kese...i would add that any time Ibn Caspi refers to kesef, it might be self-referential. and so טוב סחרך מסחר כסף might bear an additional meaning.joshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-46359511780034707132010-06-06T07:32:00.495-04:002010-06-06T07:32:00.495-04:00i agree. that was indeed how i was initially readi...i agree. that was indeed how i was initially reading it. i went along with this other reading i saw (or maybe *thought* i saw -- i have to track it down again). that is why i put in this caveat: "I am not sure what it means..." and then ran with that interpretation. and iirc, i ran with it as a result of the methodological lesson i wanted to draw at that time.<br /><br />i would indeed prefer to parse it as you did, and i think it quite likely that you are correct.<br /><br />(I suppose the awkward way to parse it otherwise is that *if* this is what Yaakov, or the Noten HaTorah said, *then* "your merchandise"... I have to see if i could track down Nechama Leibovitch's discussion of it again...)<br /><br />kol tuv,<br />joshjoshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-79726092572809884302010-06-04T19:48:06.414-04:002010-06-04T19:48:06.414-04:00I think it's really clear that Ibn Caspi accep...I think it's really clear that Ibn Caspi accepts the explanation of the old man, and I am shocked that you reject it.<br /><br />"I responded to the old man, do not say that this explanation is good, but rather say that this was what Yaakov said, or this was what the Giver of the Torah intended"<br /><br />You and Nechama believe that this is a rejection. I believe precisely the opposite. I think Ibn Caspi is saying "Your explanation isn't just a cute explanation, it is exactly what Ya'akov meant, it is exactly what God meant when he included this incident."<br /><br />Instead of saying that the old man is reading into the text something that isn't there, Ibn Caspi believes that this is THE ultimate peshat, since it works so well in context.<br /><br />Proof of this is the next thing he writes: "your merchandise [that of the old man] is better than merchandise of silver, and a word to he who wears it is dear"<br /><br />He ends by saying that what the old man says is better than silver, ie gold. Translation: That's a gold medal chiddush!<br /><br />And then he goes home, and finds that the Anshei Kenneset Hagedolah agreed with this old man.Rentsynoreply@blogger.com