Scribal Error on Parashat Chukat
As a nice change of pace, here are a few parsha related thoughts.
First, there’s one of my favorite scribal errors, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal:
Here, by the way, is the context of Netanyahu’s statement:
Professor Dershowitz reportedly demonstrated Water-Gen’s technology on stage at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington last year. And the company’s website touts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragging about the technology at the same event this year.
It “improves on Moses,” Mr. Netanyahu said in video posted by the company. “He brought water from a rock. They bring water from thin air.”
Second, there is Shim’u Na Chamorim, with a guttural heh / chet switchoff:
I recall Rav Ovadia Yosef using that phrase, shim’u na chamorim, in addressing secular Israelis, and being criticized for it.
Looking back, I recall a related parshablog post: Listen Up, Morons! I parsha sheet translated Rashi, who said לכך אמר להם המורים סרבנים, לשון יוני שוטים, מורים את מוריהם, as saying the Morim was the ancient Greek term for fools who instruct their teachers. As I discuss there, the Greek word doesn’t mean that. Rather, it means “fools”, and “instructing your teachers” is a separate interpretation as a Hebrew term — think Morah / Moreh as teacher, rather than rebellious / mered.
And the Greek term is μωρός, foolish, or μωρὸν, moron.
Third, while I’m citing old parshablog posts, here’s one I referred back to on Facebook recently, where someone said that everyone agrees that Moshe committed some sin, though the dispute is just what sin that was.
Ever the contrarian, I chimed in with my belief that כל האומר משה חטא אינו אלא טועה, that is, I think everyone is wrong is saying that Moshe sinned.
I did a series of posts about different meforshim and their views of Moshe’s sin (e.g. about Rashi and Rabbi Yosef Chayun, or Abarbanel’s survey). I won’t rehash all of them.
Rather, to excerpt the beginning of my post, Whoever says Moshe sinned is only making a mistake.
Moshe Rabbeinu did not sin. He merely failed as a leader.
Different commentators offer suggestions as to Moshe's sin, in the (second) incident in which he he hit the rock and brought forth water. And Shadal says about these efforts:
"Moshe Rabbenu only sinned one sin, but the commentators burdened upon him 13 sins and more, for each one invented of his own heart a new sin."
Even Shadal assumes that Moshe sinned. But that is not what the pasuk says. Rather, the pasuk in Bemidbar 20:12 states…