Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Mural Description from the Lectures of Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin, 1929-1930

Nazir 48: Akiva vs Ishmael

jyungar March 12, 2023

For the source text click/tap here: Nazir 48

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The rabbis continue to compare the similarities and differences between the nazirite and the Kohen Gadol, the high priest. Both are permitted to become tamei, ritually impure, in order to do a met mitzvah, where they come across a dead body and bury it because no one else is available to complete the burial. They find the prooftext for the Kohen Gadol's permission. They search for the prooftext for the nazirite's allowance to become tamei for a met mitzvah.

A number of exegetical moves are made parsing the verse ;

7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his consecration unto God is upon his head.

Num 6:7

In this pericope the difference between R Akiva and R Ishmael in interpretation emerge.

We explore further hermeneutical difference between these two giants.

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​