I never know where an article will end up once I begin writing. This one began as an analysis of a midrash about Yehoshua's name, but ended up being a humbling lesson in the methodology of midrash.
The two interpretations don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive, though. Even the Torah Temimah says, "He returned it to another place with greater honor and status," so there seems to be some underlying comparison asking to be made there between Sarah and Yehoshua, in addition to the main point which he said.
I would venture to suggest that as the yud is the smallest of the letters the point (pun intended) is made in the sharpest way possible. Shabbat shalom
Nice point! That's exactly the type of thing I would be reluctant to say IF the midrash aimed to give insight into the narrative, but it fits perfectly into the Torah Temimah's approach. Thanks, and Shabbat Shalom!
It seems that both tannaitic opinions are addressing the same issue, namely, that the yud shouldn't be lost to the Torah. The first opinion employs gematria with the latter approach finding a placement for the actual letter without having to resort to numerical values. What's I'm wondering regarding the TT's interpretation is that just as we cant delete any letters we also cant add any, and both mehalchim in the yerushalmi are ultimately left with additions—either the yud appended to hoshea (in the first approach), or the two heis in Avraham and Sarahs names. If I may put forth the argument—contra R Epstein—i would say that these aren't considered additions/deletions as they are happening in the unfolding of the Torah itself. I may be overstating (or misunderstanding the thrust of) his case and his point is well taken however that is my heara on his thought as it is applied here.
The two interpretations don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive, though. Even the Torah Temimah says, "He returned it to another place with greater honor and status," so there seems to be some underlying comparison asking to be made there between Sarah and Yehoshua, in addition to the main point which he said.
I would venture to suggest that as the yud is the smallest of the letters the point (pun intended) is made in the sharpest way possible. Shabbat shalom
Nice point! That's exactly the type of thing I would be reluctant to say IF the midrash aimed to give insight into the narrative, but it fits perfectly into the Torah Temimah's approach. Thanks, and Shabbat Shalom!
It seems that both tannaitic opinions are addressing the same issue, namely, that the yud shouldn't be lost to the Torah. The first opinion employs gematria with the latter approach finding a placement for the actual letter without having to resort to numerical values. What's I'm wondering regarding the TT's interpretation is that just as we cant delete any letters we also cant add any, and both mehalchim in the yerushalmi are ultimately left with additions—either the yud appended to hoshea (in the first approach), or the two heis in Avraham and Sarahs names. If I may put forth the argument—contra R Epstein—i would say that these aren't considered additions/deletions as they are happening in the unfolding of the Torah itself. I may be overstating (or misunderstanding the thrust of) his case and his point is well taken however that is my heara on his thought as it is applied here.