Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

On Tuesdays, I teach an on line class focusing on Pirkei Avot, The Wisdom of the Sages. Our text this week was Chapter 3:17, which is authored by Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest Sages of the entire Talmudic period. In this particular teaching, he discusses various forms of protection. One phrase reads as follows, "Masoret Syag La'Torah - Tradition is a protection for the Torah." Commentaries vary on the precise meaning of this expression. What exactly do "Tradition" and "Torah" mean in this context? Perhaps "Tradition" refers to the "oral Torah," which protects "the written Torah." Alternatively, "Masoret," tradition, could refer to the Masoretic text of the Torah. The carefully safeguarded textual integrity of the Torah must be preserved, as it has been handed down throughout the Ages. The textual integrity of the Torah includes not only the letters, words, and vocalization, but also the cantillation signs (found in printed books but not in the actual Torah scroll) and special demarcations found in the text itself. 

Two examples come to my mind from last week's and this week's Parsha. In Parshat Vayishlach, which we read last Shabbat, a series of dots is found over the word, "Vayishakeyhu." In the narrative, Esau kisses Jacob after years of separation. The dots over the word for, "He kissed him," draw special attention to the reader. Nowadays, the original meaning seems obscure. Some suggest that Esau kissed Jacob sincerely. Others disagree and suggest that Esau actually bit Jacob, but Jacob was miraculously protected. Either way, the dots are a Masoretic notation which have accompanied the Torah text for as long as we know and must be preserved.

In this week's portion of Vayeshev, Joseph finds himself in an awkward situation. The wife of Potiphar makes inappropriate advances to him. The Torah informs us, "Va'Y'ma'en  - He (Joseph) refused." As we know, every word of Torah has a cantillation sign, which helps to punctuate the text and provide the Torah with musical flavor. Most signs appear over and over again. One particular sign called a Shalshelet appears only four times in the entire Torah. The Shalshelet draws special attention to Joseph's refusal of the advances made toward him. Did he refuse adamantly or hesitantly? Commentaries vary, but the Shalshelet prompts us to analyze the situation carefully.

When studying portions of Torah, make sure that you are using a proper Jewishly acceptable edition which is loyal to the Masoretic text. Our Masorah, handed down tradition, protects our Torah.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison