iS Review 3 2003), 48-69 {2 eae Arai fr ewish Sie (outa lormeewoxonoas TALMUDIC TEXT AND IRANIAN CONTEXT: (ON THE DeveLorMENT oF TWO TALMUDIC NARRATIVES by Shai Secunda’ 1. IRano-TALMUDIC RESEARCH AND THE INTERNAL-HERMENBUTICAL SCHOOL, ‘The pst few years have wtessed an expansion ofthe range of sources that Tams regularly employ in thei esearch onthe Bev.” Scholars now fm rnian epic and fk’ Hare? to Zoourban, Maniacs, fd Esse Christm sisal end hologicl wegs" to Susaian ii tw ete ign ep a nd gc a eget omarat nd gra ares Dt ee ac ae [Sine cima Conk gues Ooty Rema, i Kan, Dor Kae Reet jew, Mea Rie, ey Ries Se, Ota Sens,Asr “Teese Wem uty ged Se nyc te ore Truce beter sh brn mort seeing tn A yl ya gl ‘hae pect re nn css a a a ‘ans fc Tos Rta es pn Tan et Pn Se Arnhem cen pene ‘Sora mt Ae Ne So rn) To ns telnet ha 8 Roca egy ce mls sy Ne Pon gage ‘nso StL od Ts aca Stat Ne on, Sent ideo me “Treraehoveea te ep tt nachna ‘gs tse torment Nem eb ope ‘Donn os seman fan Anan nNer oo aE, ‘orn SecGen” Oe 0,31 han ede ‘tu or flor O05 aan ee iCal Sh CeCe ‘nc Secay Sin epee cing Cu! ces Coe ond ‘ot ado Rs est vey Pee tn 297) 7 ‘yoga ne ar oped Mtn ms Pa oe “pany ey ew of asain ae ncn Tee san na ann mer etre 3‘Shai Secunda law and to oer nnsabini sours in a fr to broaden and depen their ‘ndestanding of the Bava its place inthe "splendi eoafsion” tat was Sasa an Mesopetamian soe)" As Yaakov Elman has ponte ou, this esewch trend series at cometve for mare thn half a cemiy of schol mele, ‘which was only encouraged by «dearth of etal eitions of Me Pes i rte and mote general studs of Santaian alte abd religions” Now ello lng steady oupat of ome long-ancipated eons and, mop significa as ‘rerltf recent cllaboration between Tame and nists the coming yen old peat promise fora eadialy now understanding ofthe Bal nd its Worl pe a i Fa of a an eB of Bon nein = Seige Pn) a anti ‘Sey ene Manan Hessel vein (AD dy Seid Uae 138 Moree Nese re," Cpt Maes Nw Conse fe bl ee ans nt Clty The ig hat Nv are een ‘ecard Aes Bal hinge Meee, 109,937. Del Bop ‘ly apie io Ccany oman ati au Honore bean irc arth an usr Cranwell oe ay. laa Cann Capon oh ade Ene Livros Ce Eee ‘dasa or ek Cong Uy Pe 207 365, te mt xi) ‘Me ot ar hi ing tuning tt al Bn eri San Him rae and Mal opty te Sri an a iL Rana nt er Barn Coe 0 Cnt Ra Tg Mt Seek, Sie 2076 es "Up Br” re? Rede BO a Om cA ‘yn am min Se a S30, i Ese ae ee Se 20 5 ‘Aton Nese Ga Nace ert 0M Sot hc A La Jemma enya nad Lg of Sri aps” me (9%, 910; ose,“ Ta poo ef ant Pa a ‘iota? dour Suds rac nde 36002) 08-29 er ety exe a spay it mv ee Spee, nwo Nt ale ‘Soctn be Bn ees ttn Cog meal 26 (957 38-8. {Fai aml, Mano Mepis athe Ran Be: a, 190.38 7: Bip Er” 96-101 {LR ut pnt mice A. Win, Pol sit composi rare Copan Mkt, 19 ae Kt a Pip. cyeas seria nd Nove 3 vo Pe Anacapa et ‘ements hah eck aCe Bg Sve sree a: aca de Forlani Hae feu, ay Calo ie he 2nd Maan ta: tn fn yr ab ‘ere One 5), Aon! Inne, Dt Dig (sr Act ow "ams Be lane, 198 ni Ad A Tat cui Ihre as se Aen or Avec Es res 2) Ticats a Tama ora en ngs ih it ig ‘nt emf wong pt oi fase Ts no ee ath ‘Talmudic Text and Iranian Context Intcsingy a important parallel vend ss ple the eld in differen foot damatally opposed, destin Renewed ier in rains hensenets aoe motes ofamoricadsaesmatistrpresion ofthe ible adele bbe xs ‘Bs some schol emphasizing the need carefully only rabbi terol ‘before runing fo the reign gods of Sasnian Mesopotamia etapa tie ost lo - ‘on of “ano-Talmai” esearch, Hayes takes a what erage schol ‘mos valuable esearch too accounting fart difereees heen fhe Babylon ‘sd Palestinian Talis. Indeed, inthe gust explin wy the Bal ao an ‘veges fom the Yershaim! in mats of law, tology and se, Tall ‘ow const Iranian sources in dew shite the eitences tween even lite in Sasanian Mesopotamia and Reman Palestine, Although Hayes does not ‘ately discount geographic xpsaaions of the Bali-Yerushalm divide the bro includes four upto just tht —she andthe thor schol ‘hn Benen the Tam repesents cleat petiza esearch of rabbinic heme ‘es over te cull fockround of abn ex, ‘a iefetion, tee two views ae no neces antagonist, The fc tht the pendulum ofscolly temperaments ha sng in opposite iets tthe ‘very sae tine provides Tals withthe opportunity tense text and ante sltmeeusty—and do s0 wih vigor intend of pig one xs ‘over the other, the mesure use of advance inthe tof rns hemenetc, ‘wpeter with an evernreasing appreciation of he Biv Sasaian aie, can be ‘ofiably mind o produce excing and meodelogiclly sound sclahip. “To that end, Ihave selected two fama natives tht, when cacy probed, exemplly bot the challenge and the promise ofthe marge ofthese fro esearch tend. Iwill argue hat earefl stron othe hermenetial engage ‘ment of two tude storytllere with tr snutees eval «sar History of evelopment dat canbe most proiably explained by recourse tothe Bas ‘Se Uae of HenbSambe 208, aco Tal ae (Cn Ny 207 te Uaey fiir ar ap To. aye, Bement ayn a ari ad Yak On iy Pe 187) Far i try of tn i as Bo Bt "Despite ms he Dic of Artie be Bye Ts oral of ba ‘dan 9 ton) 0p Eton i eee ‘in i sing ony wm be mode sy eee eo tees rae aShai Secunda Innian comet. n both eases, oer materi aculses conser ver the lei racy of two rabbi practices itemalltat without mention of any “ou Set" of extomal free that challenge, in one way. or ante, rabbinic ‘suhory. However, nner frm thai expressed inthe al redo of the ‘wo stores, the preexisting concems ae “extealized” ar now retro encoun tee betwen abs and Zoroastrian, ot, perhaps, "Zoroastrian Jews Large ‘thatthe extralization of previously anonym rabbinic voles an trary ear ‘cers signifies an intensiation of the ete! ht Jewish Zoran iteration adn he rabbis and thir world, 1 Rava avo rn Hone (B. Nia 208) “Te fr types unatheod ofan exten Bbc “bloalscene eds ocssoning on wane lotsa ors stemine wheter tare evect eens, wars bee sah {fom sx! ans. Eewhcs, ve dann bow ths nape wets oh ‘neal cpl woh farce tcc tee paca ‘pinata abi" nely pon" tea gs A tc ean extonny bby sich wR Hf Spe, rough dagoscat meen sthoransn epaents poe peo as het, While Ge prt Yous spe ato ei oan on Diode valig the excnny pi of se abso 5, the eo tmp te mee end ac og ng tier tore sy, pa of he able “hess of eter eos coupe wh as of erie a el of coempery on. Tog naive cosoming avs td fe Simin qee oft, a Homi in. Nigh 200 preset with an ieting tae ae ways dps Rava as ow sch raincoats ys dep ase bout the practice of “blood science.’ . woe esp asiey ‘pasrig mn 93 ap e oR MeNH 13 RT wr at en yeh TH eT eek rm op oy rs ea mae a ete 9 Te AS ‘yom ich anos ea ay PN TK 1.8 a et. Ti tn a xe by Cote se Foti er nel ‘Party (Se Cn Stade es 300, 1 Set ScD rh mae A Sy of Bbc Ee ‘palatine Co oe nT, 1, Weve 0 mS trig ogee tts a Hom: eh sous to rie als eh Ses ly. Ts sae cle Manton scan bot See David Coil “yp hy Meo ig Sor ‘er iter kin: A Nat on Mie eho al ef Ol Sao 1S iN tn din Anis) Mis 1, 295 ‘Talatic Text and Iranian Content a Homi tote o King Shap sa smo ood belie Rar ‘ay Ova waiting inbispresex faa] ele Hess ei 'sblod of dese” She ad tr sn, "Cae ml] cha wi te ee te” He sd a," ge pb hat cared upc is in ten ne window Themapon sh sat uve sity tind ood, nd be ‘nue femal (ba he ht oe woe, ane eee 1 (Novela) te mater ae ceri” an be ether 8c a ‘osm fe Se exchiod, 0 Jom, you del ine chars of tenant ‘The le canbe logically divs int wo pars. n he Fit af Ka Hormiz send ‘he fourhcenury Amora, Raa, a sample of her vaginal Hood o examine pus tts Rava comedy eles on this sample of ie Homni’s Mood end ams the queen mother's pais of the Jews. A trnstonal pasage bat King ‘Shapur doubting Rava's experi. This ede to the second ba ofthe sory in ‘which Ita Hormiz tess Rava y sending him sity samples of Bod. Hes, ‘Rava nearly file he examination when be is confounded by he ast onésin 6 Tht tn Baro al pen a Ha! Bat 25 ha eo ‘tl Aster Spa "eer na eae Mal pce! pee Une ‘Spot, 205) ao poten sue) usa ey ‘Sonat ana) tte adn torte chy Gling ees 89) [sbe ten tam mans eng wn Ta, fe pi sn ‘hr ind nan ie et ng win ot uate 9) Fas 12.3 Dc tne wh he ye Aetna, me ol eile” a ees ike nina’ fat ran ot ey osha enn mi be termes angen yy svn ncn i Laer wl date sin fs Hoehne men ‘malts nb osama Ney ln Hanae ere Bp ‘Sgeng vi caneananam oe ‘Ba So (an pee" ese Sdn" by Abe sr ezrin Jewa ape) Soh 105 ‘in tse w be buen ote fe eth Gc) Repl oe ily ae ‘ecm ey can eden in Hams ein me ue. Net Sy ee few peal ome (25d BN 20) ‘2 unyaqpaene ei a fan wy en cy gs, ‘Stn commend 0.0) ual rip wwii ol eed {id eet depton in smi inal ng mana aay {Tee aw abit an xeon frie snes real pty Onc ‘et esq sno fay Sods hd elt at hh ‘Srl red hat trad yb King Sse "hhc ote ol on cl aig Hos ge nt ‘ae ie eof ef Fre ‘Sth Epic’ eR Poon Cot opr ped So! an foc Ll Ita for tS of nye TH Ae ese as Rel oa 80) 8Shai Secunda t uckily, he unknowingly sends a delousing' comb as a gift to the queen mother, Rae eee echt atte ong of be at loo snp ‘The preceding naraive at B Nah 20 neritic to the it alt ‘ofthe Rava tae I dept the hd generation Amora, lear (B, Ped) wing ‘is sense of smell to dteiue ta a bloods i Indeed "he Blood of dese.” et ecrmare hoon am rn whe nna eran AAC ‘She seeo mem qr res hee bono roto en a Bean etn won bongh (snp of bedbeie. Ean: RA ‘raving nis Ray ede He ide, "hod of ‘ee Afr sh eR An je ba Std hm "My bb {ayo a ura Tess hin” [RA] apd [Eda he ‘ee, he et fe Ladi wis te ae hen Pai 25.) INR ELazaz a, R SuIMoN AND THE SIXTY BLooDsTAN (B, Bava? Marzt4B) “The secon half ofthe Rava ale shares some steal festars with tory ‘old about the fourt-genration Tana, X- Eizarb, Shimon (B. Yobail "= hp rep mph menor se wash ee hp [nc wb be gang YT ae ep Fe ee Foe 9 9H TPP erat avo a ‘ne ay RH RS] wee cue vy hal They ough efore him ity Kinds of ond He dele thm apse The bi et esing tim, Tey sd ls pole ft tere ms oe amon Them ve ese of dou” He ai "Wit be ed ht al be nals td fot the be ee) one fens them” They ee Mes. They ok he are] “lac” fer ire, IML R.FiazanB.PebaT Axo THe Btooo oF Desk (B. No 208) ‘St Gwe Ds, Sn nlp a rt (199 2 “Oa ‘Sete a Asi Zac Lancy tb A Tepe ‘eon 2 6a ie Ml aie Zeon Rago Py af an 4 (05 100-3, Neay ar in “ch dn este he ‘Set sone Ryn re Se Ste “Rta Ps ad eS ‘it re Hove dee ba a Nass he gh he ‘ee i of eh mn let Sn inc” 2 hrs 13 ft oe) 225 Bt heb Te bot pi of Mab ‘Tlmudic Text and Iranian Context Y. The Lirenany Devavonsenst oF Nina i ‘When placing the R, Elza nd Rava ssa snot cover ta ats has en Rava tics synoptic, we i Tava ale)" Hest tadions const the primary building Blok ofthe ‘Niddah 200 a) (A) its Homi te toher of King Sbepu, sent a ‘ample of bod bere Rava. )R Ovadah wae sting in his presence (©) ava svete i Fe side, “This ‘ood of desi!" (@)Ater ste aR. ‘Ami jiced ber (©) She si hin, “My hasband vs [away] on a Journey, and Asie him” @ Ann ‘ppl to Ba] the vee, The secret of the “Lords wih then She sid ob 3, "Carne see how wise the ews re" eae Conia ett ot Rta mtd at cp nd rte pp ain epee sein Ta cerry eg tn| | ‘Shai Secunda Dame | (const) ‘Naidsh 200 () ‘iadah 208 QD) (O) He sido hee is ‘pile possible that he chanced wpe if ike lind man on 8 window” (4) Theregpon she seat | (A) They browse hi int Kinds of before him sinsy ood, Kins of bod (Cand he identi them | (C* He declared them P all pure, (©) fod he as one was | (D) The vais were lice bod, and edit ot eogiz it (©) [Neverbetes te er was suecsfit snd He Sent her om | (ey He retorted, “tit ‘eas ruled) et them al be males; oe | a ae = ae cos 7m | 9 Ak fn Scam | 77 ei ee L Smite | SELES Le ft xine te elton eee Rava sory (Ni Td eon spt Scant boven aay ena (A) woman eh ring aod tangle oa ee Oy Nee a ‘atthe bet isting eh (©) Temes be eed esas tat tis ot man hat mer hand ode Ga Swish nh re soon my rn wo aan some apes aa "te sur wor lng tina ley ciety ee Stns Wim avin. Younes a wh ws see 2, Sn ean. A, Gl Sty Dr eig—e Unig Ana eget nr aa al ony Sea 32 ‘alnmudic Text and Iranian Context lege sold about wo dierent generations of ais, the hero of Nid Lis R Elsa b, Peds, scondgeneaton Palestinian Amora who appear wilh his studs R Amni,” while the hero of Nida Il the fourth generaton Bayo. nan sage Rav, who appears wih hs student Rav Ova, Acti the mir ing ofthe ales is 9 thorough that some tami commentators have drown testi fo the fst that Rav Ovni is ised tte bepning of Nia I ven though he plysnofinetion a all inthe namtive* From a sured pepetive, Rav Ovadiat's appearance consists a pe of “litsary love” Specify, Rav Ovadiab's appease in Nddah I inp inate the vle of FR. Ammi in Nida, who was needed o examine and contin the aptitude of hs master R Elazar—a tas tat is mising and presumably unneeesay in the second ale This should alert ws the possiblity that nial, a tadton tld shout R Elza was reworked fo frm Be fist half ofthe Rava le. An cxaminatio ofthe sroctrlelatonship between B Ba’ Me ‘andthe scond af of Nida Tye solar real Alkough thee ae mote sigifeant difrenoes betwee them, thse ae oulined late, Both contin (8), the sending of sity toad snipes before ai, (Chis ling (vith unsttee rel) or his caton ofthe prifeation of al, neat al, of these samples (moment of doa eanceming his eit (Ee miaclous or fcky oon Srmaton ofthe raling and ally (pai ofthe rab’ pitade hough cher the exclamation of lon fk sayiggor te aang of eien conceived fom that aighs seas ion ae hn,” Daniel Boyan and Shamma Friedman have examined the complex of 2. Blab, R. Shion stoi colle atthe ging ofthe seven caper ‘of B, Bava" Meza in which his try appears" Rayan pus forthe og erry relitonship between two anodotes there: namely he sty milled With. Elzar b-R Shien dere blood ad psy andthe sty ofthe iy Soodsans Apparently, the bleeds say appears to have een worked 10 fit the mois end grater progam of the Re ElzarbR. Shon ieray ‘yl. This especily clr when we take ino consideration Fisdat’s earch 25 Ate Moo on" A" heey mp ett to ce obits cnn pace. Ag Be ay Au ‘ls steers, and ren whi leg ab) od ‘waldtetyine detnds ons agri A Sr hth Alek Ne issn: be 6M bay ce hema CR hoe ey Ee, ic ero nde {Eh Son Alt Hh sie mote ees Mend Har ee Fr hour tan aera Bi erent af Sees weep rot 9 po gsr en be eae, om ih by Sa we oe 2 Det By Car rat eS Tale Cae Ur ites re 139318128 haan Pda “eappa bt rd be ‘SG atom etn Si atone eh Soon Pn Geared ‘Stay of eta Cap De “Pon oma iat 3636, 3‘Shai Secunda on the telatonship between the R. Elza cle in Bava! Mex and is Pale Sno comtrpar in Pesta d-Rav Kebuta, Friedman Stes how B. Bava? ‘Meat nics and ingeciowsyenlges ad reverts an older Perna cle ‘att aks meting of the bloods. Boyasn's cep, te Babylon calleston invents grotesque elements sich a sity Hoody tases and Hood stain, th re barely hinted ati the Pos do-Rav Kaha yee 'Acompanson of he B Bava’ Mea sary wih Ng T demonstrates het te, fo, a sma, Boh naraives contin (A. A, he preset of bd ‘sup f a abi; (CC) his declaton of pity, (D,D), dot concemig he ring exresed expity by a oop of dsgnaied ais or ingly by 2 student who cess the secaraey of his teacher's ling (EE, confmation of theming and fly (FF) pie of th abi The shared ame (Ela) tnd necy identi sces ofthe evo stars eggs tat the Raa’ Meg’ _eedoteconcsming Elza .R Sia ing on the iy sales of Boe ‘ws dean fom a oer tation sina rie ot of Nid 1, an hen ewok fi te Inge progam of eR. Ear. R Shien sry ele” ati, I proposed thatthe umnecesary appearance of Rav Ovadish fn Nida reveals ta the deton of literary velopment was Nid I> Nish I Now, suggest that B. avn” Mea strongly elated to the. Elza tection founda Nish I, and tt ta reworked Wo ft lpr itary ‘rogram nother words, iil tat the sam composed the ete Rava soya {slatvely Ite date drawing is materi fom these fo eric naraives ‘Wht we wines in ou symopsie—tvo smaller leary unis jatponed witha oubly lager unis actualy tue chrooologically: Speaking athena, ‘Nidah +B. Bava’ Megi'~ Nida VI. Tate Maanine oF rs EVOLUTION oF NiBDAK IT We are now in postion to assess what he stoner of he Rava native ‘may have wis to convey tis aude, swell af get wha he ae can tellus about its own contort Todo so, we wilxamine he iflences betwee a storys to sources nits frm. One significant Vato te persniinton 20. Ofc, esi we sb te it ear Ma! ome ur ‘tn Tem Br Se rn wie ss anim otepen ss rear td came Lf haat sae eee ‘lang nc et ante Ea Se ee Se cnr Ba’ Dyn case cetan te ing tome et ee ae ae a ice fi oft ae aa fer wee be, ‘Sess Dr Mears) una rr at as tener io a ered ek Baers Simei oe money miptnie dara tonmatioeeetleae 34 ‘Talmudic Text and Iranian Context of la Hon a the aneaymous characte) who in the 8 eater marves ‘rouehe bioodsas fr examination, Te storytellers decom to ge mae fo ‘revs anonymous chacers isan indication of the literary importance of fiat newly named individ. By supplying the rabbi with Hoods, the ‘women nthe earer src merely are a uma in which the abbr pee Forms acon expert. Now, Ia Homa’ cavance into the Rava ative dav be ‘ade’ tention othe nereting dynam betvee the rab ad the Serco he ‘lod samples The probly tu uadiional and modem seas have with Kia Homiz' “nonlewitinest™* may be atbuable o Gir assumption that the ‘ory is essential out Rava, and san “ext,” Ita Horniz shoud Wend sem isl tothe st” Homever, if Hori’ le an important one, be lion ‘epithe anieoe tthe sory ir about 2 abi anda Zoro precy ‘este ites to the stimulating dyamic of that encoun “Te rasa difirence between Nido I ands antecodens rao si nificant While bot elie ores end with umambigutslponiveconfimaons ‘the bb he Rava ale contains mote seous, open-end moments of uy. Regarding the eon’ fit af Niddsh Ieoncudes afer R Elza’ ang soon finned (2) aod pied (F) However,meditly folowing Ita Horna’ pase ‘Nida, Raval x questioned by no less thn the Sesanian King of Kings ‘inset (This ne sno plein ter ear version, in whic both snc dots close aftr the nial eonfiemtion and pele of be rabbi tis his cial smomeatof dou that ctw anion ino te second half ofthe tale, wie, Tugs is rave fom the B, Bava” Men's” arate. There, too, the peinary ence etwoon the ear and Inter versions mait tel tthe eed of the sry, While inthe R Einar b.R, Shimon sory the rabbis merely question whee every ruling was corect (Din Nila I the aarator fan tates that Rava was balled by the ize blood (D) Although Ears decison i ‘confirmed by the mzaculous bith of sixty baby boys in B. Bava’ Mea (E, Rava never comprehend the correct ruling, and he only unknowingly sends asug- ‘Ese gif ols Hormiz: Mos sigacat, King Shapr’sacoston tht Rava licks eaperie and only scidentaly issued a cone rung is conimed! ‘Athough the overiting purpose ofthe sari pobably to show Rava's increible 4. ah Nh. Hor Cat Ft, Mara Pari, 20-6; een" gis Pow Te Catan eh Nee, 49 he ‘ou tao (en C&S Ps 18 37 {Eta anear or h emt en ‘inte ee od tant era ee ees bee os shasta eens of Hoos Sd it Pd So cou nn ln erg a "eto ‘Somerset fs tents nde ss ele Ss Ma ‘Soy Nea or ret ok 921 38Shai Secunda ‘iio rule comet on he fist an subsequent fily-nebloodstans,Rava's lac of soceess at detente nal Hoodstin on his own at he eer some aie stil presenti the native, ‘Anoelted narative concerning Rava, fa Horm, an King Shapr in 1B. Teanie 24h might con the abervain thet aoush te ator wits £0 ‘demonstrate Rat's ables when they ae tered by King Shapur theres some residual concer that pebape the king it indeed comet inhi doubt of Rava's ‘pide: vero sani rn ares me a eT mah Taye vw Pak oH EN os EE ania WO ope va sea Poy prt TS a ga are em 9S ITN oe wa “Tarn ya te oa aT aah Tew ee eh isressmie ive tr neo roe aoe Yana Seow Bos oe ation tanh "non aro ea ye Ow PIR aM "9277 ok ws a ew Spa ONE TY an Pek "yee foe att home Yah ON PT ‘There wat eatin man who war seid fo sng it Ras Coe {cause heh imo with on Jenes, Ra et him and be aid “he mater washed i the cout of King Shaper He ae fcment ‘Rava Is Homi, tember of King Slaps oh so, "Do nl hive any depu th ese leva er eveing th ey mi of elt Master, He pest tha” Hes “Wt nt [She ep) "Thy ase for sey adn comes” Hew oh, “That ects the ston of rant Rate, bey sould eu nw ine sonnet ‘season and let rn come” She set (he flowing mesige) to Rery, “Dine your ietons, sunt ery tof lt insane” He reece ee sn in de ne ame ble (Ged), “Maser of he wall “We who ea fave bard, Goo her ve ld fe de You peomed in ba ino, ie daye of ol (sine 842) wesw ‘er je, ve at eo [het Rls eare dl poured ote an ‘Bos of Moa ote Tigi [Rave'] ther ee oh ne nd ‘ait in," be say wo teers heven oh at yu foe ‘st ep ting the at [Ra's ite i him “Chase you place [ava eheged hs ce. The ext ming he mek op nt fund i Asin Nish , King Shspur doubs Raves siity although ia his at the issue ‘concerns Raves ability to bringrain, When the king tests Rava ding the sumer ‘months, Rava is intlyineftctive, and be sueseeds only by invoking the 36.78 2] atoning Me Heng. This nord nme fom Mi sn pyr ‘wie Se Mate Seen eons of ih eye soma of Ta od ‘oP lina eis ey ra, 30D, 8 Smale ese ‘Talmudic Test and Iranian Contex irc hat the fathers merited on ths or acon and hough heey ner ‘ention In adiion, Rava’s "sucess" deemed s breach of embly boundaries and be ner pays wi his. Altough space does ot permit more exten ‘comparison of Nida I and this rested mative the very lt sean at ‘dition ciculsted in Babylonia tat doubtet Rae's sites in gener an Specifically regarding encounters with he king” While hese arate ate {0 assure the reader of Rava's ultimate ability against the hing’ misgivings both ean some unseting sentiments a el “A further smarty between Nish Il and the Tai tales i also wont oting, Boh orien appear win the matrix of lager mapor tht expres ‘doubt sbout bins abies Ia the case f the B, Ta ale te sje ak binie soeees—or lick thereof—in prying for rain” Regarding Ned T snxetyconcering the ably of rabbi lo determine the source of host 5 already preset inthe halakhic discussions ofthe gee B. Nish sues The Gena desrbes a sabi who teaches hit stents about diferent Boo colors, and ends wilh Rav Ash's statement that “feomeon) like me, who do ot know the difrnce between thi (shade of red) ad that do ot examin ‘ood fol" Later the Gama deenbes the diferent methods of ea ‘abbis—inclting R. Elza b Pesto deteoine the sours of bods buts mumber of tee Amorim claim hat only eater sages were compete! employ those methods of examination” Sailr, R- Zea expresses tepid shou tsting his ight for examining bleod when he does o! have the bly Indestnd Bsbylonion coinage. Finally, we read tat eventhough he sur ‘nd the sil "Ul would refse to examine bleod in Puma bees tha i ‘own resident sage, R. Yehuda. This lads into our sequence of eos (Nidal Tn Tair which the Gama conhides with yet othr reson for abi to decline he examination of blond “Thus, Rata's chy ling nd Ka Homma pase epetent the ana sttmpt to lose off enity about abn “blood scence” the sary abou ava praying for ain has snular goals. Howove, thr eno denying the set fing "ose end tat resins uated atthe conlsion of Nia I. 1 wouk trae tha is eresents evidence of « ipo nthe frie of the styler ‘wal, which ia ths casei stars ate. Whit might i eid ths inp {ion of bbiaic power and confines? To etm to» previo poi, why ms ‘his story be wansformet into a Jewsh-Zoronstan enooute? An syprosch 29 Se vin 08 BB 128 on hs 8 te a tz ima ew ns rei ns rb oceans Siwy nr Maes of Spe ‘pus yt Bo in lan, MD ie Ac 5, ‘1 Rg top ete ii: mote ti cde cen nt Rein Sri 18-0 oy Se goes,“ ‘open enn ln Cai sy 05)‘Shai Secunda these questions may be sought by fing the two innovations ofthe Rava-ia ormis tale together More spcifsly te posible tose the fale’ maants ‘of doubt asa rel ofthe bbe encounter with Zoreastian panty laws ‘VIL ZonoasTRIAN Laws oF MBSTRUAL PURITY ‘The wsintennee of purity and he avoidene of souroes of mpi, neta. Ing corpses, "noxious creatures” and mensrutng woes, onsite ceatal ‘eae of Zoran fom Young Avesta tes (eft bal ofthe fist tillensium BCE, trough te Midale Ages, and into the modem peiod* Tag Zaroastian menial ies were based on Indo-taian panty debts ‘which esived a disinedy Zreastian recasting in the Young Avestan book the Widewiad, mad upderwest futher caboraton sad tense development i the Aitieegtlyers ofthe Pani Widewdad (PV)~its Saaien Mille Persian Zand*—in thematically based legal complaons wich a Sat ne Best Pee sited and Not Permit) arin ater medieval txt” Stl, forte mst pat, Sesaian Zorstsnisn hs bequeathed a fo sures fo madem scholars With ey sourees tha thy nn ert resonsrt fe egal a ual yey even the ‘one conceived of by amino elite, pres class The Woed inhabited by Sesnisn Zaye was "pervasive ora” abd isco ch of Zest triton was lst eas i was not writen dow ® This ft was probably aoe trated by Islamic persecution and conversion in the centres flowing te Arb onguest, the astfance of “book cle” in lami ands and be rent Aetne of fl tassios, Most of tho situa texts have cme down os i the form of manusips no olierta the isaenh and foweath enti, ‘they equ conan tecaia ems whose meaning bas ben og forge. “The most bai resent ofthe menstrual purty laws in Sasaan Zaroas- ‘sais can be found in the sixteenth chapter of he Paka Wadd. Like all ands, consis of atleast thre separate lye Paka talon of the “Aves; loses ht cay obscie, often savy rendered wend in ht as Iwion; and extended ciacosions between named aad stonyaous Zoran {Stam ci re nai yo 1 45 Seehay boy Yay of oan eB io, tt a Pel Che tes Hes Suni pons ae). Thao es Yor En espn ofthe Bi cay a “ony tod te Ren of eps Tl Ore Poe (09) 899 Fs 8 ‘atin ci ery oti i Reb, To arte “nin Gms Ot ool in Cona a nas Se arson Co Pe Peres Sn ay, 199,081 MDa ed aay Ro ‘Sta ina 99), 21-7 Sr my “Te Seta San: Oy se Congo of ‘yi at Zr Lae” Gn. ‘Talmudic Text and Tanian Context autores. While scholus have compat the fist to lyse to the bic ‘argumim, th extended dseusions disply the highest degree of sna with sabbinc compilations sucha the Misia nd Tose an both eye and cotct ‘VIN Tus Tones DiscHARaEs: Coma, pex84c, AND 0H ‘The opening vere of the siceenth chapter of te Pablai Widewdad explains whit Zoroastians mist do when a woman begin fo mensate The ‘Avesta enplye ee adjectives iSrawat, datauuas nd vara there and elsewhere when describing meastuating women. Despite the amiga iy ofthe meaning of efrewot and danstaua, is cle that each word ithe ‘sad refers indications of mentation. Thus, daca roughly esas vith sions (of mensuation)," and yolunsiaat que ceranty denotes "wth Hand” ‘The Zand shvshly tants and than glosses each word a lows StropSmand san" dacogonand wiginond nant] 6S it tn of ace i od ‘The poses hare ae wanted in that they appear to render eich Avestan synonymous adjective dirty. According othe Zand, th loses datin and 2nd ppc represent to diferent mental discharge one esl (p= Suma ved) and oe yellow Akiogh the tm tigi det ambiguus sppeance ckewhar in the cape fo dente se st of mesial dshange™ ‘sugges atthe Zand’ trex poses maybe ed ae aso ito views meosral charges eoosising of yellow, bool, nd the unetad akg Aga, tee sew dns Di ei A a ae ney ‘ty pp ve od me se drs wr [oe ‘Move ta nls eine ibs” Noy han fo cn ae dtp, bt wen eign xen eal tes “pS (ontop tis sol bead way el seb man) ea tn ‘tm ing os stn fn te be cation ote tar Oot ely ‘Ss in es Pt ne. Fy ante ype ere age Whe it So sein en open Fie 18, woe ‘Sn Shen eel gent greece bn ‘stn liad mu eng epee come ne 705) tt ‘Set sof yen lem ime a”Shai Secunda eeu epi the fit hat the Avesta ley isnot doing anything other then sing the aijectiveso describe ameasirunt Apparel, the rabbis were atthe only religous pup nate aiity who sought tbat various mens oles 2 ‘hee erp throgh the expe of rnd tems. ‘Signifeant, tm bod case, ths fom of exegesis may be conser on- significant hts, bbii and Zooasiran exegetes oer ew and stint ea ings of sept terms In order to avoid perceived redundancies As Yaakov Elman ac ian Vesa fave denonsttd,omesigieace i bt ea + Jevish phenomenes, fat pointed out by lames Kugel bl at and eleebece an be found in the work of Avestan commentators at well” Inthe sense tht ‘omisignifiance implies a disney reverent postr of exegts toward the text hey ae interpreting is appearance in both Zoeastan and bine works ‘oft antiquity is yet mother important aea of study for joint collaboration of Traits and Tamas. he specie contet ofthe mens Ins, contains 4 frther Iyer of signee. From a lepalcxepecl perspective the rable Aid not“ned to derive a complex txonon of mens colors om he biel text Like the Samaras they could have read the pseages In Leis tht esr menstsnis and aplied a more basic approach in which wormen them selves determine wheter their discharges are mesial, ronmental, or unde ‘ermined Instead, aeady begining intemal Meraure and developing in the Tamu, the rabbis chase to develop a sea of epee entirely unas pati the Bible. This, i ue, requ the rabbis to engage ins high evel of xcatcalactobaics i order 6 ground the boodsnntxonony in the bibl text Simla, the Zand chose to ink ese vrious discharges dey tothe ‘isa or Ste a gt a rade At to mt te Zin yea boas of eantatin Spey Bann $2 dss ‘fon int ont of mesmo gf Ai 3 of pl ws Ta ed ‘Ste ing vl (a npr or sompns enc Ss Space dunt got seo ene ene par fe st Sein et stmt an Se Dec 135 da 29 (a Bh ‘Slay darn Sain “Dine 6 So Eom "Aeaon a Poa Nm 13 Yh ns i seni, "Ss Ean Ee a Heras wh hie Ban te Ss {en ef-ana’Bot 9 (RD te, Hive Unive 39-15, ses Rae Te ‘ie bi! oy Nw Hes Uy re 8 a i ‘Fes ini emp PV 1867 rein ano cope ihe mae ete teagan rion! omen nh wel a) seis vt ‘hs (an copie ora tab danse ear arte atm) oa on a) owe tr ‘he zane ming es ean am ony ding koe geo he rant hv of lon epee sen caged no Rah ann Bl, Pcp Sr Hat ie: 5 Ste Foun, Maou! ety 10-27 Talmudic Text and Iranian Context Avestan verse instead of legato them to common-sense knowledge Wile the “rosin stem di nt undergo anywhere nes he level of development tn inecsity of dicounse thatthe bine sytem dig the derivation of varias die ‘hargs trough omisenificn exegesis represents simslar eed aac scrip tural aur to this aspect ofthe menstal ews. "Te Zande nepretation of laa yellow ad adap ah, ppenes Inter inthe chapter a well In PV 16.1415, te Avesta discusses the pihment forhaving cox wih a menstrun. In conta 9 1613, which sees Woman ‘who hides evidence of meastuston, 16.4-15 dal With « exe in wlch the ‘woman's ans era mentnant ene ler 0rd... He hos prep pi mings hs boy inaction {hn of woman eh mth nen, nh od, when hr in esl when er meres ae Cla, wate perl fri Thea A Nona si: Te fist he arcs, fist he sd wit, oe se ply iy soaks wit hors w, hy ih he aca ‘The Avesta contin an intresting play on words. In order 1 express the cexranty ofthe woman's impure sas, the Avesta employs the same ajives itused previously to deseibe a mensbusst: yr here dastom Dowtyat 1h data eirom Bout (hen ber sig noticable, when er mens re lea. “Th Pale Zand takes thi verse oto plain mening and translates | fallow tik nig haga didn and tr pad meg ‘enc to gent twas ar ai hana be {Sse etragdeiag hid [a aha 6 ale word) ‘nt 79 dag ite bw eta 6 ah ad), ota tan tc uh brent Dp ober sn obo rn path rator Wiens woman of tae, dase to ingest in wii enor os [shri cot a anes whi Unc we te ray becomes dasa (at chang fo elo tako tig ort deo bores crag (i, hangs fom oi sk ‘An Oka ty sok al be stuck upon in fr te ce ith erent cay ty (ot) tsa 1 Sein Ta So San 4b Teton aii Cn Hanbun ity Ger 150}, tae hie" ss maybe aed os re vicesShai Secunda ‘he Zan nal tantion ofthe Avesta ge det The word bowed, the Brseusinglr form of th Pb eb fring dan cca es foes 8 Zaet Yet he Za’ gh fo hawt, amey mane cose fuming” or ehagig” and empsns sates spect oh Pesce ian tat of becoming” Thre, lasted of undeaadoy he yas nea “when Ber sg erative) i tebe, when ar meses ash? disap} we cen" the Zand pecives crap ts piytelly enn han day and vise versa Lik the opening vers of cape. Wir ane ae imple that ra ad dao re wo dite sbnancs sd oily oe Ave sjctves hat dese a mens. Acudinly, aure pun yo lose as zrd yellow) ad daa ei sages hat i an fang ses of die autor to the detons tim Zoran ad © mae egaing vind daca, ie Pande he sabe owen dtl revo wk eas ee asin pris id ot devise a complex sytem of pre a input dares that ll fo new kindof eclesal capri, We cay ee hee ee Peri Whdbwdad) ond ane explicit ssemet nije! apt tat ‘ores a acta postion on cuaminasons of loss, Again the and the opning vee oF PV 16 mpi eons rar (ed), ele aed hip isctages inoue becanse they requ » memento expen thc a heel the dain (sal “ht. The Zandi PY Tel ao a tai a ange susan = 8 Syst 3.1418 closely flows the ls of ahi old in PV AG. synoptic sty of Saye net 3 and PV 1 eves at Span Hye 319 ssl on PV 1611.2 Siar yes 19 sae Bhagwat pa par adn B88 mah ‘Sion bev evn dais (Regain) eva, When te color ha chang ht Wet eon baie sd ao tn whieh comes str mean sinus I gop) ‘The Syst 2 Syst passage appears to betting a phase PV 16.112, ud hari dn baw yon dan, or "and every ike mension! ‘This use is apparently understood 6 meat th al "ths" (or Sehagen th 16111 ye Bt ee Aen atest 6 oe new ‘as wat fo dy eee i lye may hep ea ‘oe hii ye te o's en a en thei inom im fs me tough etl PV cx hf ti ae (Rr) osc teas hn ‘Tali Text and Iranian Context (rapa ob conse ing. Siete either elles ie ‘era fe Pt Mabel seach, need feast Se {ined “hing” the pe hore eveything) le yet deh Desi he fact at in a uae pase PV 162 conceed wi te eg puree fhe eit feat king tt em nee {3 etn ihe Zan rn eget mil apn of wore or ts secking the appearance of vaginal dscharges, Eventhough Zoretin a was ‘arf aout determining the eat moment of menetul ipl, and, acd ingly, thea wo explicit reference to examination in page (PV 152.5 and 16.2. these two cases sean 1 relate toverifing spl wheter ere ‘mension stall und not the parca of dicate’ sppeaence™ 1X. Tae Resor oF Rasnoac snp ZonoastaAn Dares OW RULES ON Bicone In sim, Zoroastrian a consis, but jes, lp iffeentistion beeen the colors of vaginal discharges. Thu, we might sy tat bin concern ver rung on bloodsais, which is aledy preset in other pas of te magna a B. Nish 198-215, isa oming concer forthe nator ofthe Rava ta Hori tale precisely becuse he connotations of tat encounter were et source of ante. The nara’ tempt aly tis concen betas the abe lack ofconience to rule cn bloods, While hs ack of confidence might re. iowa have demons a form of asic religious py trngency inthe feof doubt) or an amaenes of the "decline of he generations,” becomes sce in iy cont between Jews, who were Inert inthis mnt, and Zovostrans, ‘ho war mre sting Although the fale is clea a Ierary construction that does no recent at ctl historical even i does presve impo informtion repading isnt torand his world Fist, athe sk of tig the obvious, the story conf cut ‘node tat Babylonian rabbis recognize the signifcnce of menseal input ity in Zoroastrian if" Ils goes fr beyond tis by expressing» two-pired rabbinic fnty: fist hat the rabbinie mens input laws are cael fuperce wo the competing Zoroasian sytem, and Sond, ta abs are cot sulted by Sasanian royalty reprding purty mats. At the same tine, ia the ‘Sle (ie om lo dla) he me it a a ay (ah) ee ein nl Hawes ea Sper ae pe ely. Amitai ete ait ‘etry yt ava es mcblsnncacneinae a Se ete ert ange cee ‘Sy coer npr fr eveyeny Zan saraShai Secunda Talmudic Text and Iranian Context fon of wo moments of dub, hele resins tac 2 of anit concening the be tsted not to tave sex wile sched with heir menstuan ‘ty claims: Do the Jens oly a oe 8 hese foi ies, con be st sex while no sulin he dpa ef tooddans? Nanay | eae %: Rav Kassan AN Te Ay (B, Saneon 374) | XI. Tae Sources oF rit RAV KaMAKA Tats cnr, fl few on neal herneeate nd ermal fl Sine ancient mes, the Song of Songs hasbeen interpreted allegory. Most fundamentally, the inp between the book's cle and fer Tove Ins teen read as an expression ofthe reaonship beeen God andthe Jewish people. Silat, de eabis have read a whole hot of cnracers ino the text fh as Genes, Moses and Aaron, various Jesh lenders, ad the evish ‘onrt system. Indeed, Palestinian soures undemtend the beginning of Sas 173 as refering tothe Sanhdro—ahe highest Jewish out "mmo ogi nt “wm waco Feworetime momen power ee me ew oe epee Te TEN PTT ‘cera min id Ray Kaban, Vo sy ut Lier nein Speyatrrain ra pats Ps PreT TSN sche he th lhe nme Sr SSorenrs ems ornnerne renee "Hodes win tes Say Reem "Te Th ere “Sea inno ess oho oem Pe ene tone ‘ances sone svn ee a sty wt at 4 Poperan gu ayin a me jn sum tempi ne as Me Po Teen mer an aa ee A “Your one ie ound pote (Sans 73) efron 1H, Weis and, more recenly, Ei Adv aad Yaak Ei 4 persuasively thatthe Ree iit td Yaakov Elman hve argued ‘uaa fs as og a i smth wo dee at ve ep Teast te soonymes “ti (mt) heres Zan era "rou i evel eo 50 toe aoc So oy ing excep ach mimes he espouses Zrastan views They hae ase sting ot ‘hex Suan, A ound got apa hasohar"ttreting flora es the daltistin, or menstnal “hit in which Zoresun ‘alghtsent ado doar} ™ Aas ie, “Tht se pnes 1.0m ips files MeHg nd eee he ne inna, Rav Kana raped by caning th he Ten ee 3 oan a at ua xp ei el pg E ies ofthe Jews ‘ud ema try th pe tad is et if ee tet Sat ey we comput les of his Al Jem, ren teas St path ‘i tng ha hy pt ce init Ras open So eo eat Ta Kat's opin ne Tan ar rach np ts mrt remittances NM et a, naam ahh tram a i a a pendent aia aT ie ee ce neenenee epee ae ri eat De rere Vin: Ram, 182), 24; 5 Ak Sih oa patel ce he vpoomgeaes Se ote ps ih zn a Lome gin EET TE soca ti id ut hemi Seto aap eee Res wey Yast Semin dense gE CE” 6ST ‘ds + pomepst[ of ei) an e esRe “And ese cuneate eee inca | See eee ‘iets rshoin eer mega gat ae cee es Ye tater, ged Gis mat) ‘ace i rma Wage eer a oe ap TEC bw et eg Socio bth igh ae (90 et Tiemirercasmeae eerie puma commana ithaca a eee arte ahah unre ees {CSc Semone oa ce 28” Fran nlf ec (Seve af egy a ei ope i sa, Io ae ee cee cae Se ad tt el ee eh ain Te 690 A mt a, sh Mia th Deny Jat tina iSian souk oot Ick ts mye” Aner opie “ey ‘ape wie is wasing™—The Snktsin tlle ek ye st the Lam” AS sigh ta» Mina] og ‘3° Za and on pat wie wig Slaton wie= Ante spe ah teed wie is waing”"Let wot ck te talc ‘wes mite, “he Lodi yeep vl tne ga Sein mesh dited vin is enplyedormurenqucnen eee SERRE Te img ofthe bel, which ant Patna ee ee it Sutatin, ne Bais comma feel dered ene "spose tat ily te av even mec eps es a 75s ME ec Se AS, ul een Sart Tea Nas 2, pe ames os em St SE, eno th Pan {tics ata 13, et Rate Parr Pn axils ae 3:Poin tbs 21s Pera Tse Arta ten A ARNAY 2 Ae Sat a8) 6 Talmudic Text and tranian Context {othe Sanodtn. On the other han, Rav Kaban’ eponse 1 the mn based gna alematve reading of the conclusion of Songe 73 att eae aes Swohedin batter tothe mens awe In oer words, he Bevis structre generally flows the Palestinian mid rate move in Which Songs 73 intially unersood a feng tn ere i, adi Ie connected fo te andthe mest lav, This & cape ‘Avot de-Rabbi Nathan B (ARNB), which intoduces te “peserre ona speed slemave wo reading “hedged wth iter” ma aes forthe mages Accontng to our understanding of Rav Kebaa's eames, {be in, he Bal also shits the meaning af Songs 73 ote same nen fit interpreting the vere as refering tothe highet cout aed ee lowest elect of Jewish soiety ‘Azofierclement ofthe Rav Kaban acc ab expressed mos clely in the ARNB pull. Unlike the Bavy which cies the mileabe Cee ‘Songs 7:3 becuse oft reference ote Sanborn, ARND prin wc in he ly metaphor a tree obi enactments anal poceee ae mts lave fom even inadvertent vioakn, nee, a8 al aes, devoted toa iseussion of “iba fenes'—that biblical Cache ice potesing more serous prokibitons fom being tansgtesse The cena secialng oneself with close relative ia orc to prevents iain Sen incest laws. Second, there ae the rues again sy kid of playfil soa, wk ‘mensruns. This lads into the exegesis of Sons 5 ched series Abou all of te Palestinian sources highligh the lack of soil presire {o ep the mensial aw because of theft tt the compaion to treseee ‘hem occu in the privacy of one's bedroom, the pasage Im ARNB sapiens £2 Lamune isl ni dove con ins di een Ge ilo ‘he Sutin nao npuine ARDN Neetnios ncaa cae ‘Ns eS: Raph NN Rabon, Dain? le en aes Rey, 196, Smet oda 55, Now at Hog ot mn aki il," ga ed a s/n acinar ea Fannie ee nt et pa eg. MAIN 3 Shs 12 Sng Bey, dn ea Nae: Sie on ero: he Seb, 38) 2, "Nb bat mur ao] ara wr mom] omen He om) 9 rae cones gene erereuenaa SoU eel eve nee erase eee ee “Hoe wih se meh gs ane tt i) ERASE ShShees Cowan hae [sO ome nine a oa a ‘hen no il Rt we earnest pes ‘eel wih a i ie These ye ep! nt Tee sia‘Skat Secunda contrasts ie stingent “ence” hat frit seclusion with relives withthe pr Insson granted tos husband and wife tobe alone even when abe nesting. ‘Thay, ARNB cals the fence aimed a pr‘esting the mental ie “weak feoce," as a'man may be alone in his ouse widh his menstunst wife even ‘hough 20 one is round t proven them fom becoming itt ‘Of cute, the most date comnection between the Rav Kahan snc ote andthe Palestinian sources isthe understanding tht “hedged wih ies” Sonichow refers othe mens Ins. The fot of his association i expicted In some ofthe Plexinian pres roa pe >a mcary am dra sms Ie yermuyey ime retains me oa RT eS A Levis "Acrordng the costo of he weds man marino en be sity oe Yes ol. A spi is mane [a he dng eae comes 1 ote hse) to Be And if) se 6, "Tae se a op of on ne ed Hy" he eae hal Ben tevin ‘Whats particulary interesting about his sources dat alnough stems fom the ancien sociation of ees with mension, the actial midrashie mechan: is reads the ies in ems of he lowes sofness, ands understands the mt horas expressing the vulnerability ef erin "sof" in other words, ulneble, ‘ommandents- While Rav Keba's response to te min alo focuses on the Mowers "softness" and doesnot expla the Hly-menstuaton sociation, it departs from the Palesinian souces and ideaties the iy metaphor with ‘morally weak Jews, XII. Tie Reworxino OF THE SoURCES OF THE RAY KANANA TALE Jn sum, te Bali passage andthe Paleinian sources share mach ners of| content and stustue, amely the Uy-meosration esocation, the sttual ‘Siilaiy of the interpretation of Songs 73, and, fall th concen that th me ‘ira las are verb esas ofthe privacy grt to husband ad wife” ‘Atte same tine, he Ray Kahana namator rework his sources in a distin! vay Fist, an itll “itera” concer s“extemalized” troagh its tansformation {nto 3 dslogae botween a ab and a Zorosta-stle min In atin, te iy {6 Simon dws om vo ai io a puis) ‘useing pd co vst re esl ats nin ey ome ot sod. ‘nas ne enon Sn Pin ute eet Bose Pt ‘fm Pte trv Une Pr 60) 98-01 es Stoneman ar tyro me ei Talmodic Text and Hanian Context metaphor i sifted fom refering Wo commandments to seeing to Jews. An Interesting Feature ofthe ARNE pra! i ht although irae he sae dat ‘he mensinal laws ae in constant danger of wansasesion because of selon, ‘tds ot solve the rosam. In athe won, the parage ie esenally ess. five sates tht there are erin "hblcal fences” that are weaker dn totes, and leaves the dscasion a ht ™ This sin contrast to Rav Kai's "espe, which solves the probe by clang tha the Tora esti t inherent sowie. [A athe Rava Horn he “Zoronstnization” of previously enon- ‘yous characters or ences spi th the Jest -Zorneian escureconst- fue a new sore of xi for eldprlems. Hrs, a concer handy exist Palestine is pla i the mouth of«Zaeesta-se mirth someone who repress an eseral heat obs auority. Recent research by Chrisie Hes ‘ns demonstrated that tamuic anaes stasicaly employ “Other,” sic 3 "Romans and mini, inorder expres controversial das hte ute arava rabbinic tation Dt wre nda etre bythe abbr o leat the one stents, 1 seems plusle that the presence of Zooasan menstrual ht” [Euhylonia encouraged sone Jes o consider opting the sngecy of fbi ing sehsion wih ensnane. The naar ofthe Rav Kahana alte ft ‘margialzes thi sugsestiony placing iin te mouth of min He then respons {othe argument by expreaing& form of eliginus pride. The naan mpi claims that alliough, hea sched, man and woman nomally cant Be feasted 1b Keep their seal passions in chek, the Torah esis tat “we Jews"~ceven the lowly ones~are able o resist hs temptation, ‘The ale this slimes acknowledges the Iino dangers of pe siting menstusting womes to rerun at home with ther husbands at wel ax Ze ‘onstianpregmatsm in elegating hem omens "hus" it elsims tit Sears nea not worry about hese ise, This to, canbe lad 1 the dymaies ofthe Rava Honmizl,Like the Rav Kahana asd, the Rava sry lo ‘temps tonsil confidence athe exceptional of Jews-here, rabbit ig nose blodstsins successfully agains a hockround of obbinic and Zon Unease with this very patio. "The gal of hs paper bas been o demonstrate though source cia nd “conexant” analysis ht bth ales ior the dynarie of Sesnian Mesopo- tama abd its complex eof cultural nd slows tensions. Beyond our mime te conlsins, we hope ta the paper wil encourage fare esearch concer ‘with the Bavil and is place inthe euluraly effervescent word of Sana Mesopotamia Shai Secunda Yale Univesity ‘New Haven, Comecict sel Me oe is ein it i wig i