Off the Daf and Into Israel

Mountains and Valleys Sotah 33 and 37 Before we delve into the geographic puzzles of Gittin, a few last words on Sotah. In the seventh chapter we have a comprehensive discussion of the blessings and curses given on Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. This is in the context of what must be recited in Hebrew and what can be said in any language. The mishnah explains the procedure for giving the blessings and curses and expounds on the verse in Devarim 11 that explains how to get to the mountains: ארץ הכנעני הישב בערבהמול הגלגל אצל אלוני מרה הלא המה בעבר הירדן אחרי דרך מבוא השמש Both are on the other side of the Jordan, beyond the west road that is in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the Arabah – near Gilgal, by the terebinths of Moreh. (JPS trans.) There are many details in that verse, not all of them fitting together. The Gemara discusses whether מבוא השמש  means east or west, connects the story to Abraham who goes to Elon Moreh and brings in the Samaritans who inser

Sotah 41 If Only One of Them Had Had a Nickname. . . In the discussion on our daf about the king reading from the Torah at the Hakhel ceremony, we have the fascinating story about King Agrippa. The Mishnah relates that he stood during the ceremony even though he was a king (the Gemara explains that that was because he was not from the house of David). When he reached the verse that forbids appointing a non-Jewish king, he started to cry, presumably since he was not fully Jewish. The crowd comforted him by saying אל תתירא אגריפס, אחינו אתה, אחינו אתה!   Do not fear Agrippa, you are our brother, you are our brother! The story suggests a number of things: that Agrippa’s Jewish ancestry is in doubt, that he is a righteous man and that he has public support. The question is, who was Agrippa? We know that Agippa was a king from the house of Herod, and also of Hasmonean lineage. Rashi states these facts and adds that he was king at the time of the destruction of the Temple. The p