| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 324.1 | why? | IOSG::LEVY | QA Bloodhound | Tue Jun 30 1987 10:37 | 2 |
| Please explain to the less enlightened of us the context
of this and your reason for picking this verse out?
|
| 324.2 | English you want... English you get... | TAVENG::CHAIM | Le'Chaim | Wed Jul 01 1987 02:03 | 23 |
| I don't know how authorized this xlation is but here it is:
Anyone who upholds (saves in this context) the soul (life in this context) of
any member of Israel (i.e. a Jew) is considered as if he has upheld an entire
civilization.
The talmud also states the converse.
The Talmud mentions this in reference to a situation where an enemy force
surrounding a city gives the people of the city an ultimatum of either giving
up a particular individual or being totally destroyed. The Rabbis forbid any
such "compromise".
The underlying meaning is that every individual has infinite importance. It
cannot be quantified nor measured pragmatically.
Jews for centuries have overlooked all risks and cost in order to save even
one life. Consider what the Israeli government has given up in order to have
bodies returned for proper Jewish burial (not to mention for POW's). Such
action is based on the thesis mentioned above.
Cb.
|
| 324.3 | It;s for a gravestone | JEREMY::GIDEON | Fe is expensive, but Si is cheap | Wed Jul 01 1987 02:05 | 3 |
| It's for engraving on a gravestone. The grave is that of a Christian
priest who saved a good deal of Jews during the holocaust. He asked to be
buried in Jerusalem, and a Moslem family is sorting out the arrangements.
|
| 324.4 | Try Soncino.... | TAVENG::CHAIM | Le'Chaim | Wed Jul 01 1987 02:38 | 13 |
| I would suggest taking a look at the Soncino translation of the
Talmud. I don't personally have one, but I'm sure that the library
at Givat Ram or Bet Hanasi does. The xlation I proposed is correct
from a context point of view but lacks the eloquence you are most
likely seeking.
If you have any difficulties obtaining a suitable xlation send me
a mail and I'll ask around and try to put together a literary gem
for this person. From your description he obviously deserves it.
Cb.
|
| 324.5 | Davar Acher - Another View | POBOX::LENOW | | Wed Jun 08 1988 15:56 | 12 |
| This is a belated reply since I read this note only a few minutes
ago. I agree with all that has been said but I should like to offer
a different translation for mekayaim,"perpetuate". Kayaim means to
"keep something going" and with the mem prefix indicates the present
participial form of "one who keeps something going".
The pashoot (simple) explanation of the verse is exactly as Chaim
stated, one who saves a single soul in Israel (the people), is as
if he had saved the whole universe (of people). It is very appropriate
for the use you intended.
Moishe
|