Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

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

Avodah Zarah 53: רָקַק בְּפָנֶיהָ, וְהִשְׁתִּין בְּפָנֶיהָ

jyungar August 10, 2025

For the source text click/tap here: Avodah Zarah 53

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The Talmudic passage in Avodah Zarah 53b presents a fascinating case study in rabbinic hermeneutics, where the sages invoke the war of Joshua (milḥemet Yehoshua) as a legal paradigm for determining the status of abandoned idolatrous objects. This seemingly straightforward halakhic discussion reveals profound tensions between historical narrative and legal precedent, between memory and law, and between theological meaning and practical jurisprudence.

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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.​