H I ST O R Y OF

AMULETS CHARMS

T A L I S M A N S .

A H i s to r ic a l I n v es t iga t io n i n to the i r N a t u re and O r ig i n .

M ICHA EL L:I‘

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ODK I NSO

A U TH O R OF

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N E W Y OR K .

1 893 .

L7

T O

D r . A D O L PH J E L L I N E K ,

C H I EF R A B B I OFV I E N N A

D r . M . L A ZA R U S ,

Pr o f. of t he R ova l U n i ve r s ny , Be r l i n :

M o ns i e u r ZA D O C C A H N ,

C h i c l R a bb i 0 1 Fr a nc e . a Pa n s

A N D

D r . G U S T A V GO T T H E I L ,

R a b b i of T e m p le E m anu - E l. N e w Yo r k .

I n t o k en of g r a t i t u d e fo r t he m anv Va l u a b l e se r v

i ces r ende r ed b y t hem t o sc i e n ce i n gen e r a l ,

and J e w i s h l ea r n i ng i n pa r t i c u l a r , a s

w e l l as fo r t he g r ea t k i ndness s h o w n

b y t h em t o h i s pe r son .

D E D I C AT E D BY

T H E A L'

T H OR .

In com p l iance w i th cur rent copyr ight

law , U . C . Li bra ry B inde ry produced

th is rep lac em ent vo lum e on pape r

that m ee ts the A N S I S tanda rd

1984 to rep lac e the i rreparab lyde te r iora ted or igina l

1 99 6

TE STIMON IA L S .

O f t h e m a n y t es t i m o n i a l s g i v e n t o t he a u t h o r b y m os t

r e n o w n e d s c h o la r s o f t he w o r l d h e g i v es h e r e o n l y t w o o n e

by R E V . D R . j U L I U S H . e d i t o r o f t h e S c i e n t i fi c D e

pa r t m ent o f t he H em /d ; t he o t h e r b y R E V . D R .

C . W rx sm w . Vi c e .Pr e s i dent fo r t he U n i t e d S t a t es

o f t he L o n do n E g y p t E x p l o r a t i o n S oc i e t y .

(F r o m t he Bos ton H er a ld. J u n e 19 ,

Som e t i m es a gen u i n e sc ho l a r i s d i spossessed of h i s

p l a ce and i s com pe l l ed to t a k e up h i s abod e an i on !.r

s t r ange r s,a nd u s u a l l y j u s t i n p r opo r t i o n t o h i s ex

c ellenc e as a s t u d en t i s h i s di lficulty i n m ee t i ng t he

w o r l d and m a k i ng a sq u a r e ri gh t w h e n e v e r y t h i ng

t u r n s aga i n s t lnm . Th i s seem s to be t he ca se w i t h

D r . M i ch a e l L . R odk i nson,w ho h as been t he v i c t i m

o t’

t he pe r sec u t i o n of t he J e t s i n R u s s i a t o t he ex t en t

t ha t h i s hom e a nd m ea n s of ob t a i n i ng a l i v e l i hood h a v e

lleen des t r oyed,and w i t h a n i m pe r fec t k no w l edge 01

E ngl i s h , h e and h i s fam i l y h a v e bee n com p e l l ed to

s h i ft as good a s t hey co u l d am o ng com pa r a t i v e s t r ang

e r s i n a ne w c o i i nt r v. H e bea r s w i t h h i m an i a

dor sem cnt o f h i s w o r k a nd po s i t i o n t he nam es of t he

m os t e lncni nt Je w i s h r a bb i s i n E ngl a n d and o n t he

co n t i n ent , and i n t he h ope o f es t ab l i s h i ng h i m se lf i n

t h i s count r v he h as w r i t t e n a boo k o n t he h i s tor v

o l‘

am u l e t s . w h i c h ,i t

'

p u b l i s h ed . w o u l d no t on l y

g i v e h i m a m ong u s t he sc hola r lr r a n k t o w h i c h h e i s

e n t i t l ed,but w o u ld, t o som e ex t e n t , be o f pec u n i a r y

h e l p t o h i m . Th i s book i s no w i n pr ess i n N e w Yo r k .

I t w i l l he i ss u ed i n an E ngl i s h t r a ns l a t i o n a s soon as

D r . I todk i nson ha s s ec u r ed eno u i s u bsc r i p t i on s a t

t w o d o lla r s a v o l u m e t o pay fo r i ts p r i n t i ng and b i nd

i ng . P r of. H . C . T oY of Cam b r i dge has l oo k ed o v e r

h i s w o r k an d g i v es t he fo l l o w i ng est i m a t e of i t s v a l u e .

“ L ea v i ng out t he e t y m o l og i es of H eb r e w w o r d s and

t he pr et a lm udi c a r chaeo lgy, I fi n d D r . R odk i nson’

s

h i s t o r y of J e w i s h am u l e t s , fr om t he t a lm u d i c t i m es to

t he p r esen t , c l ea r a n d - u sefu l , par t i c u l a r l y h i s expo

s i t i ons of t he gen es i s a n d m e t hod of r a bb i n i ca l di s

ca s s i o n .

’ T he w r i t e r h as a l so ca r efu l l y exam i n ed t he

sam e m a n u sc r i p t , an d s t r o ng l y i ndo r es w h at P r of. To y

h as sa i d . T he w o r k i s r ead ab l e for any on e , and i t

b r i ngs out i n H eb r e w l i fe t he i n t e r es t i n a m ule ls .

w h i c h i s t he exp r e ss i o n of t he fond ness for c h a r m s

w h i c h C h r i s t i an s i l l u s t r a t e i n w ea r i hg t he s y m bo l of

t he c r oss . Wha t D r . R odk i nson n eed s i s a r ecog

a i t i on of h i s s c h o l a r l y w o r k i n t he fo rm of subsc r i p

t i on s,a n d h e can be r eached by l e t t e r s o r i n pe r son a t

52 C h am be r s s t r ee t .

B os t on , M ass . J u n e 13 , 1 892 .

R ev. D n. M . L . H O D K INSO N .

M y dea r S i r :

F r om a c u r so r y r ead i ng of som e of y o u r M S ,

i n t ype w r i t t e n cop y , I am l ed to co n c l u d e t h a t y o u

a r e h and l i ng an ex c eed i ng l y i n t e r es t i ng s u bj ec t w i t h

t he t ho r o u gh l y c r i t i ca l and s ch ola r l y m an n er t h a t be

l o ngs t o i t s p r ope r co n s i d e r a t i on . Yo u r d i sq u i s i t i on

o n t he Teph i l l i m i s v e r y l u m i no u s a n d fo r c i b l e . The

w o r ld o t'

O r i ent a l r esea r c h i s p la ced u nd er ob l i ga t i o n

t o y o u fo r y o u r pa i n s t a k i ng l abo r s and fo r t he v a l u e

a b l e r es u l t t h e r efr om .

I a m g l ad t o k no w t h a t so schola r lv a t r eat i se

a s yo u r s i s to be p u b l i s h ed .

T h a n k i ng y o u fo r {v o u r k i nd ness i n ca l l i ng ,

I am m os t fa i t h fu l l y y o u r s .

W i t . C . W i x s w w .

A few Words to the C r i t i c.

A few y ea r s s i n ce . i n m y boo k en t i t l ed“ U r sp r u n g

u n d E n t w i c k e l u ng d es Phylaet er i en R i t u s llC I den

J u d e n”

('

I‘

h e O r i g i n and D e v e l opm e n t of t he Phyl.R i t .

by t he J e w s) I exp r essed an op i n i on con ce r n i ng t he

h i s t o r y ol'

t he Tcp ll z'

llz'

m w h i c h ca u sed a g r ea t u p r oa r

am ong t he Sc h o l a r s of t he “O r t h od ox" c l as s on t he

one h an d , a nd ga i n ed for m e t he s y m pa t h y of t he

“R efo r m ed H eb r e w s,o n t he o t h e r . A ll t he J e w i s h

pe r i od i ca l s],i n di ti

'

e rent co u n t r i es . a t t h a t t i m e,ap .

i ) T h e fo llo w m g a r e t h e n a m es o f pe r i od i c a l s w h i c h

m e n t i o n ed o ur w o r k i n I 883 :“

Je w i s h C h r o n i c l e , Je w i s h

\Vo r l d . L o n do n Re v u e des E t udes Ju i v es , Pa r i s : A l l ge m e i n e

Ze i t u n g de s jude n t h u i ns , Bo n ; M a gd e b u r ge r

M a gd'

e b u r g : R e fo r m e r , P r a gu e ; M o n a t s sc h r i f t . F r a n k fo r t

a . L'

nga r i s c h e r I s r a e l i t e . B ud a - Pes t : Vo s c ho d. S t . pe t e r s

b u r g ; . \ rne r i c a n I s r a e l i t e , D e bo r a h , C i n c i n n a t i ; a nd a fe w

o t h e r s i n I t a l y , e t c .

— I lI

p r o v ed m y pos i t i o n and m any p r om i ne n t sc h o l a r s2

ho no r ed m e w i t h p r i v a t e l e t t e r s a n d e x p r e ssed t h a t

app r o v a l , pa r t i al l y o r w ho l l y of our opi n i o n .

2 ) T h e n a m es o f t he h o n o r a b l e gent e lm e n a r e t h e

fo l lo w i n g : D r . As c h e r , L o n do n ' D r . Be r n s t e i n , t he w e l l7

k n o w n Na t u r a l i s t . Be r l i n ; D r . B r i ll. F r a n k fo r t a . M . ; D r .

Ba m be r ge r,Koe n i gs be

i

r g i . Pr . D r .B l oc h . Pose n M r . B u be r ,

L e m be r g ; D r . Zaduc C o h n . G r a n d R a bb i o f Fra n c e ; D r .

S . Co h n . B uda - Pes t ; P r o f . D r . D e l i t z , L e i ps i c ; D r . D usc h a k ,

K ra k a u ; D r . D ra bk i n . S t . Pe t e r s b u r g ; M r . S . I . F i n n .

W i l n a ; P r e f . D r . G o ldz i ehe r , B u da Pes t ; R e v . G r ee n ,

L o n d o n ; D r . I s i do r , ( t he la t e G ra n d Ra bb i o f Fr a n c e ) ;

D r . je l l i n e k , V i e n n a ; D r . Ka i se r l i n g. B u da P e s t ; D r .

D r .K l e i n , S t o k ho lm ' P r o f .K r oc h m a l

,Fra n k fo r t a . M .

’

i

D r . L a za r us , Be r l i n ; D r . M . L i psc h u t z . Be r l i n ; D r . L a n da u ,

D r esde n ; P ro f . M a r k s , L o n do n ; D r . M a i ba u m . Be r l i n ; M r .

Ne uba ue r,Ca m b r i d ge ; D r . O p pe n h e i m e r . T h o r n ; D r Ra bb i «

h o w i t z . Pa r i s ; D r . R u b in. V i e n n a : M r . S a c h s . Pa r i s ; M r .

C h . 5 . S lo ni m s ky, M r . B . S lu t z ke r,H a m b u r g

P r o f . D r . S t e i n t h a l . Be r l i n : P r o f . T h e odo r us . M a n c h es t e r .

D r . Wue n sc h e . D re s de n , M r .Wus t ene t z ky , S uba lko . A n d

t h e fo l lo w i n g e m i n e n t ge n t l e m e n h o n or e d m e w i t h t h e i r

O p i n i o n . i n t h i s c o u n t r y . a bo u t m y w o r k s i n m y a l b u m,

D r . Fe l se n t h a l (b y l e t t e r ) C h i c a go .D r . G o t t he i l, N e w Yo r k .

I am w ell a w a r e t ha t i t w as no t t he' s u pe r i o r

k no w l ed ge co n t a i n ed i n t he boo k j u s t m e n t i on ed,w h i c h

at t r ac t ed t he a t t en t i on of so m an y em i nen t m en,H e

b r e w s aud C h r i s t i a n s (as P r of. D e l i t z of Le i ps i c ,

D r .W u e n sche of D r esde n,t he B i s h op ofWes t m i n i s t e r

,

L ondo n ,w ho hono r ed m e w i t h t h e i r l e t t e r s ) , but t he

fac t t h a t t he s u bj ec t h ad r em a i n ed u n t o u c hed b y J ew

i sh w r i t e r s up t o t h a t t i m e (as s t a t ed b y D r . R u b i n of

V i en n a , P h y l . R i t x . ) I t i s t r ue t h a t H . S h u r,ed i t o r

of t he“H uc lui lufz a t t em pt ed t o t r ea t t h i s s u bj ec t (H a

c h a l u t z vol. v . ) but h e di d no t car r y h i s i n v es t i g a t i on

v e r y fa r co n ce r n i ng t he n am es and h i s t o r y of t he Te

ph i lli m : h en ce i t w a s t h at m y a t t em pt t o e l abor a t e a

s u bj ec t w h i c h h ad been but l i t t l e i n v es t i ga t ed a t t r a c t

ed t he a t t e n t i o n of p r om i n e n t m en;a nd m an y of t h em

u r ged m e t o p r oceed w i t h t he i n v es t i ga t i on . (See t he

l e t t e r of t he w e l l - k no w n N a tur li s t D r . A . B e r n s t e i n ,

an d P r of. Laz a r u s of B e r l i n , did t he sam e co n ce r n i n g

D r .H i r s t ( b y l e t t e r ) C h i c a go . D r . Ja s t r o w . hPi lade lph i a .

R a bb i ja c ob Jose p h , D r . Ko h l e r . D r .K o h u t . D r . K l e i n ,

a nd P r o f . E dw . R . S e li grnan. N e w YO r k . D r . M o r a i s .I

Phflade hdna .

m y w o rk D e r S can/c lea n A r ne/r a nd s e i ne li ez i e

hungen e t c . )

B e i n g m u c h i ndeb t ed to t he gen t l em e n n am ed for

t h e i r k i nd ness and enco u r agem en t , I co u l d no t sa t i sfy

m y se l f w i t ho u t con t i n u i ng m y i n v es t i g a t i o n s : espec

i a lly a s I di d no t see an y d e t a i l ed c r i t i c i sm of m y

op i n i o ns r e l a t i v e t o t he h i s t o r y and de v e l opm e n t of t h e

'

t‘

eph i l l i m ,and

,m u c h t o m y d i sappo i n t m en t . i t seem ed

as i f t he Sc ho l a r s of t he p r ese n t t i m e . did n o m o r e

t h a n di s t r ac t t hem se l v es i n t r y i ng t o an a l yz e m y

Op i n i on s .

M r . L . L i lli enlllum,i nd eed

,o l t e n sen t m e b r i ef

r em a r k s . and a t t em pt ed t o r efu t e a fe w o f m y h yp i t h

eses . These I ga v e a p l ace i n m y E bben S ap p i r , t o

ge t he r w i t h m y r ep l i es . B ut a l l t h i s di d no t am o u n t

t o a cr i t i c i sm . as t he a u t ho r h i m se l f adm i t s .

M r . K . A . K r oc hm a l i n “J a m T ep lu

’

lli m l i m i t ed

h i s c r i t i c i sm t o t he r em a r k . t h a t i n h i s op i n i o n t he

T w p /1 1115111 w e r e es t a b l i s h ed b y t he "A shcoles

“

(aft er

t he Tem p l e S yn ed r i on nihx xn

'

i N l 13 7 and no t bv

t he S y ned r i o n of J a m n i a . Fa r t h e r t h a n t h i s he did

no t go . ( S ee h i s o r i g i n a l w o rds i n E bben S a p p i r . a l~

r eady r efe r r ed t o . and m y r ep l y ) . A sti l l fu l l e r r ep l y

w i ll be fo u n d i n C h apt e r v . o f t h i s boo k,M ons i e u r

I s i do r Loc h,of t he [26 0113 ( 108 E tudes J u i ces

,s at i sfi ed

h i m se l f w i t h sa y i ng o n l y t h a t i t i s c r ed u l o u s t h at the r e

co u ld not be fo u n d a pa i r of T eph i llnn i n F r an ce i n t he

d a y s of B as h i an d T osepho t h as w e pr o v e i n o u r Ph y l .

R i t . ( i n d i sr ega r d of our p r oofs i nd u ced i n sa i d w o r k

fr om R . I saac t he e l d es t ( R i 3pm of t he T os i lho t h ,

and t he R a bb i J acob t he a u t ho r of t he “Q u es t i o n and

A n s w e r s fr om H ea v e n D ‘p tvn i t: m ni w m m bxw ofC ur bel

a n d di d not a t t em p t to go fur t h e r r em a r k i ng on l y t h a t

t h e r e a r e i n m y w o r k m an y good t h i ngs w o r t h y of n o

t i ce . P r of. S t e i n t h a l expr essed t he Opi n i on i n h i s

l e t t e r t o m e (see S hulehau A r u c h u n d se i n e B e z i o

h u ngen et c . ) t h a t t he m ean i ng of can not be

t a k e n i n t he o r d i n a r y sen se,t h a t i t s h o u l d be t i ed on

t he h a nd,but i n t he se n se i n w h i ch I exp l a i ned i t , and

t ho u s h a l t w r i t e i t o n t he d oo r - pos t of thy ho u se .

fin“: m nm 5p nnnnai ) w h i c h c an no t be t a k en t o m ea n

t h at t he w h o l e B i b l e . or l'cut . al one S llzl ll‘

bO w r i t t en on

t he doo r -

pos t s , o r ( D 3 3 5 51) annual A nd y o u s ha l l set

i t o n y o u r h ea r t s , t o m ea n t o place i t on t he h ea r t , but

i ns i d e t he h ea r t i . e . t o be a l w a y s bo r ne i n m i nd : w i t h

t h i s h i s c r i t i c i sm end ed . T h e fe w r em a r k s I h a v e

q u o t ed .com p r i s e t he w ho l e c r i t i c i ~m u po n m y w o r k

d u r i ng 1883 3 84. a t l ea s t , a ll t h a t ca m e t o m y e y es .

V I I

F r om t he'

or thodox c l ass I di d not h ea r any t h i ng e i t h er

for o r aga i n s t t he abo v e w o r k . We r e i t no t for t he

e ncour agem e n t g i v en b y h ono r ab l e gen t l em e n n am ed

o n t he fi r s t page I s ho u ld be i n c l i ned t o t h i n k t h a t t he

s u bj ec t I h a v e e l abo r a t ed i s of v e r y s l i gh t i n t e r es t,an d

d oes not d ese r v e to be fu r t he r co ns i d e r ed . B ut see i n g

t ha t m y op i n i o n s h a v e ga i ned appr o v a l . i n gen e r al , i f,

not i n d e t a i l . and s i n ce I k n e w t h a t m v i n v es t i ga t i o n s

w e r e no t com p l e t e , I d e t er m i ned t o u n de r t a k e t he

w o r k of c r i t i c i sm m y se l f: to go o v e r aga i n all I h a v e

w r i t t en i n t l. B i t H o lcol a nd BM W S app i r , t o co l

l ec t fu r t h e r i n fo r m a t i on . com p l e t e m y w o r k .

Wh en t h i s w a s don e I cam e t o t he co n c l u s i on t ha t

t he m a t e r i a l w h i c h w a s c r o w d ed i n t o Ph y l . B i t . and

E bben Sapp i r , w as no t s u ffi c i en t t o g i v e a c l ear h i s t o r y

of t he Teph i l l i m and K om eot h,l e a v i n g out t he

po l em i ca l pa r t w h i c h I i n t r od u ced t h e r e . I w a s a l so

i n fl u en ced bv D r . R u b i n ofV i enna w ho a d v i sed m e to

w r i t e a pla i n h i s t o r y of t he Teph i l l i m . fr ee fr om po l e

m i cs and sc ho l as t i c d i sc u ss i on . i n o r d e r t h a t t he C r i t i c

m i gh t pen e t r a t e t he s u bj ec t w i t h o u t h i nd r an ce . . \nd

no w h a v i ng been r eq u es t ed bv on e o f t h e Pr ofi‘

esso r s of

H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y . B os t on , t o w r i t e a s ho r t h i s t o r y

o f t he Teph i l l i m i n E ng l i sh I h a v e com posed t h i s

vt u

boo k , w h i c h a l t h o u gh no t l ar ge, p r esen t s not on l y t he

h i s t o r y o t t he Teph i l l i m o r T o t0pho t h , but t he h i s t o r y

of a l l k i nd s of K om eo t h i n gene r a l,fr om t h e i r fi r s t

appea r an ce u n t i l no w . Th e t ex t s con t a i n t he fac t s,

w h i c h 1 h a v e ga t h e r ed fr om d i ffe r e n t so u r ces , t hese

h a v e bee n ca r efu l l y an al y z ed ,a nd m ay be t a k en as

pos i t i v e l y es t abl i s h ed .

I n t he r em a r k s,w h i c h a ccom pan y t he t ex t , I ha v e

g i v e n t he so u r ces fr om w h i c h t he fa c t s h a v e bee n oh

t a i ned,a nd t he r eason fo r m y o w a op i n i on s . w he ne v e r

t h ese h a v e bee n i n t r od u ced .

I a l so d eem i t necessa r y t o ca ll a t t en t i o n t o cor

t a i n opi n i o n s , w h i c h I h a v e expr essed ,w h i c h h a v e not

bee n se t fo r t h b y an y w r i t e r h e r e t o,and to as k t he

Sc ho l a r s of t he pr esen t t i m e t o a n a l y z e t h em . and g i v e

t he i r op i n i on s con ce r n i ng t hem , n a m e l y : T he O r ig i n

of t he Nam es To top ho th , T ep h i lli m ,and Fo rum , w h i c h

I fo u n d out aft e r all I h a v e her c t efor e w r i t t e n o n t h i s

s u bj ec t w as i n p r i n t ; a l so t he na t u r e of t he Tep h i lli m

i n t he pe r i od begi n n i ng fr om t he P r ophe t B ac k t o

H i l l el t he Zakken: al so t he c h ange i n r em o v i ng t he

t ex t s fr om t he o u t s i d e t o t he i ns i d e of t he ca ses b y t he

J am ni an S y ned r i on , a l so t he K om eo k no w n a s t he

9" do v e'

s w i ngs’

tam ) w o r n b y t he Sam a r i t a n

,a nd

o r i g i na t i ng “0 111 t he “D o v e” p l aced t h em o n t he m o u n t

“ G e r i z i m ”

as a G od , w h i c h R om eo “E l i s h a”" t he M an

of t he w o r e t o t u r n as i d e t he a t

t en t i on of t he C asdor : a l so m y Opi n i on abo u t t he

K oni eo Q i sh r e w i t h w h i c h D r . D u s h a k and

o t her s ag r ee a l so : t he w ea r i ng of Teph i l l i m b y t he

. l ow i s h C h r i s t i an s i n t he ea r l i es t ages,w h i c h ca u sed

m a n y c h a nge s to be m ad e aga i n s t t h em by oppose r s ,

t he Pha r a sees ; al so a ne w exp l an a t i o n of t he Be r n i /11a

na b a n d t he m ean i ng Of t he .\I i shna t he

Yb IOp ho /h w he n t h e y a r e se w ed up ; and Ia s t ly,— t he

de v e l opm en t s Of w ea r i n; r t he Tep h i lli m rS~an nnsn

i n t he co u r se Of t i m e u n t i l R . J oseph Ca r o . ( 1600)

I h u m bl y r eq u es t l ea r ned m en a n d sc ho l ar s t o

r ead t h i s w o r k a t t en t i v e l y , and i n t he o r de r as pr e

sen t ed,a n d no t t o l ea p fr om Ch ap t e r t o Ch ap t e r ,

i r r egua r ly ; on l y t h u s c an t h e y j u dge cor r ec t l y w h e t h er

m y pos i t i o n s and con cl u s i o n s a r e co r r ec t,I s h a l l be

g la d and g r a t efu l t o see m y w o r k ca r efu l l y ana lvz ed

a i .d c andidlv c r i t i c i sed , I d o no t o ffe r t h i s boo k a s a ti

na l and a bso l u t e l y pe r fec t a u t ho r i t y but as a co n t r i

but i o n t o t he l i t e r a t u r e o f a s u bj ec t w h i c h d em and s

S t i l l fur t h e r s t u d y .

N e w YO R K . .\ I t nc n, 18 92 .

T h e 55 t h Y ea r of m y l i fe .

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i s a be n efi t t o m a n k i n d . T h e ea r t h . i t w as beli e v ed .

w as b y t he w i l l of G od s u bm i t t ed t o t he i n fl u e n ce of

t h ese po w e r s . t h a t t h ey m i gh t r u l e o v er all c r ea t i on.

s u s t a i n i n g o r des t r ovi ng l i fe . ca u s i n g s i ck ness o r

r em o v i n g i t . andb r i n g i n g fo r t u n e o r m i sfor t u n e as t he

c ase m i gh t be . T h ese oc c u l t po w e r s . c a l led “spi r i t s"

.

s ee i n g e ve r vt h i ng. but t h em se l v es be i n g i n v i s i b l e .

w e r e m o r eo v e r be l i e v ed to w ande r o v e r t he w o r l d d o

i ng h a r m t o t h ose w ho di d no t r espec t t h em o r w ho

i n anv w av defi l ed t h e i r s anc t i t v . but m ak i n g h appy

t h ose w ho c h a n t ed the i r pr a i ses i n s o n g s and hvm ns

o r w ho m e t t h e r e w i t h t he n am es of the holv gods w ho

w e r e r e v e r e n c ed bv t h em . The c r ed u l o u s so u gh t t h e r e-v

fo r e e v e r y m ea n s of appea s i n g t h ese sp i r i t s and of

i ng ra t i a t i n g t h em se l v es w i t h t h em i n o r de r t o a v o i d

m i sfo r t u n e and esc ape bad l u c k .

In c o n seq u e n c e o f s u c h s u per s t i t i o n s som e s h r e w d

peo p l e c l a i m ed t o ha v e. i n te r c o u r se w i t h the holv

god s a nd t o pos sess t he po w e r o f c o n fe r r i n g fa v o r s

u po n t h e i r fr i e nds and o f m e t i n g out m i sfo r t u n e s t o

t h e i r e n em i es . S u c h m en w e r e se t up a s pr i es t s and

m i n i s t e r s o f t he gods a nd a s m ed i a t o r s be t w ee n t he

l a t t e r and m en. Th ese e njo y ed h ono rs and w e r e h e l d

i n g r ea t reve r e n c e : t he peop l e k i sse dt he i r hands and

the bo rde r s of t h e i r gar m e n t s . O t h e r s . aga i n . shr e w d

ly c l a i m ed i nt i m a cv w i c h om n i pr e s e n t sp i r i t s and the

po w e r t o i n fl u e n c e t h em for good or e v i l . S u c h w e r e

t he sor ce r e r s and e n c h a n t er s of a n c i en t t i m es . Peo ~

ple fea r ed t h em oft e n but di d no t h o n or t h em , w i l l

i ngly gaVe t h em g i ft s , t h o u gh co n s i der i n g t h em se l v es

r obbed of t h e i r pr ope r t y : s t i l l t h e y w ere com pel l ed

t o g i v e . out of fea r of a r o u s i n g t he a n ge r of t he e v i l

spi r i t s . He n c e t h e r e ar ose t w o k i n ds of s u c h m en : the

holv pr i e s t s of the gods . and th e so r cer er s o r enc h ant

e r s w ho had t he po w er s i m p l y t o c a u se. o r r em o v e

e v i l but no t t o bes t o w good ( 1 .

T he fea r felt b y t he peop l e for t he so r ce r e r s and

fo r t he occ u lt po w er s u r ged t h em o n t o s eek fr om

t h e i r p r i es t s de v i ces of pr o t ec t i o n w h i c h m i gh t be

u s ed b y t h em a t h om e o r a b r oad . w he n a w ak e o r

a s l eep , and defen d fr om conju r y and c onjur

e r s . T he ho l y pr i es t s g l ad l y fe l l i n w i t h t he peo

p l e'

s r eq u e s t s and f u r n i s h ed t h em w i t h v ar i o u s i m

ages o f t h e i r i do l s . w i t h m ag i c s e n t e n ce s i n sc r i bed on

v ar i o u s s u bs tances . c o n t a i ni ng n am es o f gods and

I ) A s c an be see n f rom S c r i p tu re , 3a la am t h e S O I C C I C I'

h ad na lv t h e po w e r o f c u r s i n g .but no t t h a t o f ( lO i ng good .

godd es se s . T h e y t a ugh t e x o r c i sm o f t he e v i l s p i r i t s .

T hev g a v e t h e m v e r ses c u l l ed fr o m t h e i r s a c r ed book s .

so ngs and hvm ns add r e ssed t o gods and h e r oes . and

t he l i ke : a l so c h a r m s t o be w o rn on the h ead . b r ea s t .

and a r m s . M en o f t he s am e pe ri od l i v i n g u n de r s i m

i la r c o n d i t i o n s a r e e v e r y w h e r e a l i ke : and t h u s t h e r e

w a s no na t i on o f a n t i q u i t y t h a t did no t w e a r c h a r m s

o f o n e fo r m o r a n o t h e r o n the h e ad .b r east . o r

a r m

t‘

H . l l .

A M l'

I .E T S , T H E I R M A T E IH A L . FU R NI S . N A M E h

N I ) POW E R S .

T he c h a r m s w h i c h w e r e w o r n i n a n c i e n t t i m es

I w a ll peo p l e s and a l so bv t he J e w s a r e c a l l ed i n t he

Ta l m u d ow neor fl . s h a l l s ee f u r t h e r on ho w t he

Wn l‘

ll o r i g i n a t e d and ho w i t w as u sed bv'

the a u t h o r s

o f t he Ta l m u d .

2 < c c ll i s t o i r e C r i t i q u e d u G u o s t i c i s m c .

pa r D r . .\ l a t t e r and our U r s p r u n g a nd E n t w i c k c

l u n e d e s Ph y la c t e r i e n - R i t u s . b e i d e n l u d c n.

S i n ce the am u le t ha dto b e w o rn e xpo sed t o V i ew

i n o rde r t hat the S p i r i t s s h o u l d see the i r i n sc r i pt i ons

i nd keep a w av fr om the w e ar e r , t h ey i n the co u r se

o f t i m e de v e l oped i nto o rnam e n t s. T he r i c h m ade

t h em of gold , s i l ve r , br o n z e, and pr ec i o u s s t o nes, w h i le

t he poo r co n t ented them sel v es w i th par chm ent , p i eces

o f li nen o r w oo len c l ot h,lace o r em bro i de r e d fi l

l et s m ade by t he w om en to em be lli s h t h e i r QA M E A H

( am ulet ) , for w om en a l so w o r e c h ar m s for p r o t ec t i on

a s w e l l as for o r n am e n t

N ot o n ly did t he m a te r i als v ar y , but t he re w as

llS O exhi b i ted a m u lt i pli c i ty of shapes. Som e w e r e i n

t he fo r m of plates w o rn o n tne fo r eh ead som e

r ep r esente d i m ages ef gods ; so m e w e r e ro u n d l i ke

a ball 5 ) w h i l e o t h e rs had the fo rm of sm all s q u a re

c a s es w i t h the i r o u t s i de fa ce s co v er e d w i t h i nsc r i p

t i on s . T ha t t he fi l le t s a lso had a v a r i e t y of des i gn s

m ay eas i l y be i n fer r ed ; fo r thei

fr ont le t s w e re fas t en ed

b y fi llet s fr om the for e h ead t o the occ i p u t , and t he

3 ) T r ac t S h a b b a t h , fo l . 57; a l so D r . M a t te r , l . c .

4) lb id ; i b i d .

5) .\ l i s h n 3

,M e g i l l a : I f o ne m ake h i s phyla c t c r v

r ou n d e t c .

.\m u le t s , C h a r m s , T a l i sm a n s . R odk i uso u.

6

bal l s o r sm al l c ases w e r e fas t en ed b y m eans of a fi l l e t

e n c i r c l i ng t he h ead , m ak i ng a knot a t t he occ i p u t a nd

falli ng do w n o v er bo t h sh o u l d e r s u pon t he b r eas t

T he H i ndoos and t he Pe r s i a n s ca l l t h ese

ch a r m s,t al i sm ans ; t he l a t t e r al so H AM A L E T E

The R o m a n s cal l ed t h em am u l e t s ( a m u l e t a ) ,

t he Mesopo t am i an s t e r a p h i m ,t he B as i l i an s

a b r a x a s,and t heG r ee k s phyla c ter e

‘

a 01" ‘s loi che i a

”8 )

T he E g y p t i a n s and t he an c i e n t H eb r e w s a l so

t o t a’

p h o t h an d t he C h al d ees ( s e r a e h o )

t e b h u 1 i m The sh ape s and i n sc r i pt i on s v ar i ed

w i t h t he d i ffe r e n t n a t i on s and r e l i g i on s , a l so w i t h t he

t as t e of t he w ear e r ; but t he belief i n t he i r e tficacv

fo r w a r d i ng ofi'

e v i l sp i r i t s and for b r ea k i ng t h e i r

spel l w a s com m on t o a l l n a t i on s .

B es i des t he abo v e q u al i t i es t h e i r w ea r e r s asc r i bed

t o t h em t he po w e r o l‘

br i ng i ng t h em s u ccess i n t h e i r

6) E ze k . x x i i i . I S .

7) H a m m e r , c i t ed b y D us h a k i n o u r w o r k,

b h e n

S a pp i r , p . 36 , a nd D r,K o h u t i n a l e t t e r to

8) D r . M a t t e r , op . c .

9 ) D r . M a n de l ke r n i n I la - K 0 ] .

lo ) E b b e n S a p p i r .

7

u nde r t a k ings an d of p r ese r v i ng t hem fr om v ar i o u s

d i seases . Spec i a l am u l e t s ex i s t ed for u s e i n t i m e of

ep i dem i cs , an d s u c h a r e fo u n d e v en t o da y am ong t he

l ow er c l asses . The H eb r ew s a l so,l i k e m an y o t h e r

n at i on s , beli e v ed t hem t o be co nd u c i v e t o t he p r olong

a t i o n of h u m an l i t'

e

CH A PTE R I I I .

T OT A 1>H 0T H ; O r i g i n o f t h e Na m e : t he t w o I do l s To t h , Po t h ;

t h e T i m e d u r i n g w h i c h t h ey R em a i n e d i n U s e ; t h e i r

C h a n ge s .

The H eb r ew s i nE g y pt u sed to w ea r fr o n t let s u pon

t he i r fo r e h ead s a ft e r the m a n n e r of t he E g y pt i ans

of t ha t t i m e, w h i c h t h e y ca l l ed “ T o t a p h o t h .

The y a l so w or e k no t s u po n t h e i r a r m s

Th e n am e “t o t a p h o t h w a s t a k en fr om t he

I I ) T r a c t M e n 3 h o t h , fo l . 2 7,

1 2 ) S e e M unt c r , a l so W i e n e r a nd Go t t f r i ed c i t ed b y

D us h a k i n o ur I I a - K o 1,No . 2 97, p . 1 24, a nd i n o ur E b h e n

S a p p i r,p . 36 . T h e s a m e a p pea r s f ro m t he t es t i m o n y

o f D e m e t r i us i n D e Ross i ’s M e o r E n a y i m ,l l a d r a t h

2 6 ( 1 e n i m , a nd see , a t l e n g t h , i n o ur l’hyl. R i t us , p p . 52 - 7l .

E g y p t i a n s w ho called th em 5 0 afte r thei r

t w o god s "T h o t h"

and Therefor e

t he B ib le c om m ands : “

A nd these w oh ls w h i ch 1

13) D r . .\ lz ndd i zc m in our journa l H A R O L fioX V I pg :

169) “t i nn i tus :“tha t he w a s t he firs t one - 4 11 hi s s n ide i n ( be [our

in ] A fe w “uni s abou t t he O r i ent— lo

m e on the t r am of t he (as-

"

g i n of t he na m es of “T ot sqvbu h

'

lu v

i tg the i r e i g h t from t he nam es of the t ho se tw o E gvpli an

i dols. and H'

s q fini m x b a n i-

w aved b e D r . R a bi n o i V i enna

w ho ha dam the o mnnzm étv , to ac t the aha-w e m en

lionod a r t i c le ha v e k en obliged to sea rc h us : t he N i g i a {i f the

w ord“ T o mfim h

”

a i d: the foam ni ag m i ! ,

T he Idol “ R i b"

{g ull of Egi zu w a s m vsh ippa i h r 251: E N m l! ~

d - E g r‘

pl , and am n ni hg to n i c e affl i c ts even “

34 5 3 3"

t he firs t

t i mi d xi i E gyp t ba dfa i t h i n t he s ai dIdol. a n d m i : h i m an i n .

“one: Tem ple i n an dan i m a l m m"

w r ifiu s t o be

N u g b x to hi m : ( ak in i n thi s ( do! {as ked eve n fi re-r t he k i rg dom

of ( be .\ be'pbeni

s ( H R-

sn as the B ag 40 13 3 5 t he se a of the .

B ug t l m s x .w ho un p a ved the W 335 of E m u ha s m e d

3 m T cm Ne t o ( he M oi " Posh

“

i a“

l i m p-hes“

t ha t be w a s

A ll t h i s took place di n i ng ( be t i m e of (be li d w ev s w ho

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10

hand,and t he y s ha l l be as t

‘

ront let s ( t o t a p h a t h)

be t w e e n t h i ne e y es" (D e u t . Th i s passage i s to be

u nd e r s to od i n t he w ay i n w h i c h R . Sam u e l be n Me i r ,

a g r andson of I saa c ides (R ash i ) expl a i ned i t. i n h i s

w i t h h i s d i c t u m (T r a c t Sa n/m i r th 4 b ) ryny inns ; on m ea n t

t he s a m e ; fo r t he c o r r ec t r ea d i n g t h e r e i s ‘na - i n C o p t i c

(C f . o ur P h y l . R i t . p . T O T m i g h t h a v e had t he m ea n i n g

“t w o

" bec a us e o f i ts be i n g a l w a y s c o u p l ed w i t h PH A T (and

a lso w i t h t h e god P h a t,w a s co u p l ed t h e god T o t . (S e e

.\ la nde lke r n l . c . ) H o w e v e r t h a t be , w e see t h a t R . Aq i ba

c o n s i de r ed t he n a m e t o t a p h o t h to be o f E g y p t i a n o r i g i n ,

a nd t h e sa m e v i e w i s h e l d by D r . D a v i d de Pi p i us (S ee o ur

Pnyl. R i t . p . a nd b y Ab ra h a m S a ba , a u t h o r o f Z e r o r

H a m o r , w h os e w o r ds a r e c i t ed b y u s i n t l. R i t . p . 64,

n o t e 7. S i n c e i t i s w e l l k n o w n t h a t t h os e a m u le ts bor e t he

n a m es o f gods o r n a m es t h a t e x p r es sed som e r e la t i o n t o t he

la t t e r,

a ndJt h a t “ To t ” a nd “ P h a t ” w e r e m em be rs o f t he

E gy p t i a n Pa n t h eo n , t h e r e i s n o do ub t as t o t h e c o r r ec t n e ss

o f D r . M a n de l ke r n’s o p i n i o n .

P r o f . S t e i nt ha l, w ho r ej ec t s t he i dea o f i t s be i n g o f E g y pt i a n

o r i gi n (S e c P h y l . R i t . p . di d n o t see D r . .\ I a nde lke r n’s

a r t i c l e . i f t h e r e w e r e a ny dou b t a bo u t t h e m a t t e r , i t i s no w

e n t i re l y d i spe l l ed . a f t e r w e h a v e fo u n d t h a t t he na rne lcp/u'

l/i m

i s o f fo r e i g n o r i g i n , bo r ro w ed bod i l y f r om t h e Ba b y l o n i a n s .

I n fa c t i t i s c om m o n l y obs e r v e d t h a t n a t i o n s bor r o w c os t u m es

f rom o n e a n o t h e r . E s pe c i a llv a r e s u bj e c t ed peop l e s a p t t o

i m i t a t e t h e i r m a s t e rs .

— 1 1

0

com m ent a ry ad loc .

‘ For a s i gn u pon t h i ne h and .

’

Th i s i s t o be u nd e r s t ood i n i t s con v ent i on a l se n se ; t h a t .

i s,i t s h a l l be t o t hee a con t i nua l m em o r i a l

,a s i t

'

i t had

been w r i t t en u po n t h i n e h and . l i k e t he e x pr ess i on

(Ca n t v i i i‘ S et. m e as a. sea l u pon t lnne hea r t .

’

‘ B e t w ee n t h i n e e y es ,’for an or nam ent or go lden t r i n

lt e t w h i c h u sed t o be w o rn on t he fo r e h ead.

”

T he

Ta lm u d i s t s’ v i e w of t h i s passa ge , n a m e l y , t ha t i t

com m an d s t he S u bst i t u t i o n of pa ssages fr om t he

B i b l e for h eat h en i ncan t a t i on s i n t he t o t aplm t h u sed,

i s a l so adm i s s i bl e . Fo r oft e n w e m ee t W i l l ] t he ex

ho r t a t i o n : “A l'

t er t he do i n g s of t he land o t'

lfiv t s h a l l

y e not do” I 4) .

Th e fo r m of'

t h e T o t . a p h o t h w a s t h a t ol'

a p l a t e

s l i gh t l y c u r v ed,co v e r i ng t he fo r eh ead and r eac h i n< r

fr om ea r t o ea r,ho u n d I rv a fi l l e t t o t he oce i pnt . O n i t s

o u t s i d e face i t how an i n sc r i pt i on o f so m e v e r ses o r o f

n am es of God , an d t h a t fo r m co n t i n u ed i n u se do w n t o

t he t i m e of t he M i s h na,and t ho u g h w e do no t k no w

w h a t v er ses or n am es i t ho r e i n E g y pt ,w e n e v e r t h e le ss

d o k n o w t h a t a t t he t i m e o f t he fi r s t doc t o r s o f t h e

M i s h n a t he v e r ses on t he t o t a p h a t I t co n t a i n ed t he

14) T h i s ha s bee n a l r ea dy s u gges t ed b y us i n l’lrv l . lx r t .

p . 8 o f t h e I n t r od u c t i o n , l i n e s 2 8 - 30 .

— 12

S h e m a po r t i o n (L’UW 11 271 5 ) ( D ent . vi . 4. 5 ) T h e

r i c h u sed to m ake t h e u i of go l d o r s i l v er . and the poo r

o f c lo t h of v a r i o u s colo r s . and bot h m en and w om en

w o r e t h em as or n a m en ts-

m ) T he .\ I i shna allo w ed

w ome n t o go out w i t h t h em on t he Sabba t h , pr ovi ded

t h ey bo re i n sc r i p t i o n s o n t he o u t s i de . but fo r bade

wea r i ng t h em o n t he s t r ee t u po n the Sabba t h befo

r e

t hev ve t had t h e i r i n s c r i p t i o n s l 7) . But t he M i shua

1 5)M oses o f Couc y i n h i s li l e h H a m i t s V O t h (ed .

lta s i li a ,1 533) says : I t i s a ‘

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T I LL"; t o

fas te n t h e t e p h i l l i m o n t he h a n d , bec ause i t i s

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c m w pi . H e al so sa ys : A

p late

wh i c h i s fas te n ed upo n t h e fo re h ead .

rea c h i n g f rom ea r t n

e a r i s. c al l ed tn S c r i ptu re T o 1 a p h o t h , e t c and t h e sec t i o n ,

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h e m a i s w r i t te n t h e re i n .

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t he B r i t , .\ luseuin ,

No. 48 1 ,

a,a o

,o f C0uey , a nd

o u r l'hyl. R i t . p . 1 3 3 , p r . 5 .

10)T r a c t S h a l ) l ) .t t h , fol . 57: t h e t o t a p h o t h r u n n i n g f rom

va r t o c a rt h e poo r w om e n m a ke o f c l o t h o f v a r i ou s co lo rs , t h e r i c h

o f go ld and s i l v e r .

“

I n t h e sa m e w ay t h e au t h o r o f Z e m a c h

H a v i (1 ex p l a i n s t h a t t he t o t a p h o'

t h w a s a p l a te l i ke t h a t

worn by t he h i g h p r i es t . S ee a l so l ) r . R ub i n ’s l e t te r i n l

‘ hvl.

R t t . p . 9 8 .

17) S e e l i b h e n S a p p i t ,a t t he beg i n n i n g : " T h a t w h i c h

x'

e m a i ned o f i t i n t he t i m e o f t he M i sh n a w a s n o t m ere l y 3 fl i g h t

d oes not spea k a t a l l abo u t m en’s w ea r i ng to tap hoth ,

for t he r eason t h a t. m en h ad t h en beg u n to w ea r a h

o t he r am u l e t k n o w n by t he nam e o t'

leblurli m o r rep /r i l

li m ; w h i c h l a t t e r a l s o t he doc t o r s a l l o w ed t o be w o r n

o n t he Sabba t h on l y i rr e x cept i on a l c ase s , as for

i n s t an ce i n case one w a s fo u n d on t he s t r ee t

t r a c e . b u t t h e v e r y t h i n g , t h e o r n a m e n t a nd t h e n a m es a s

w e l l . C f . t he M i s h n a :“ A w om a n m u s t no t go o u t (o n t h e

S a bba t h ) w i t h a t o t a p h o t h o r a h ea dd r ess tpm n o) w h e n

t he v a r e no t y e t s e w e d o n,b u t m a y go ou t w he n t h e y a r e se w e d

o n .

” T h e m ea n i n g o f t h a t pa ssa ge i s no t t h a t t he a m u le t be

se w ed to t h e h a i r —p e t a s t h e c om m e n t a t o r s a d [on e x p la i n i t ,

t o r does n o t t he .\ I i s h na a l l o w o n t h e S a bba t h t h e w ea r i n g o f

a ll k i n d s o f o r n a m e n t s e v e n i f t h e y b e no t fa s t e n ed to t h e bod y ?

I t w o u l d h a v e a l l o w e d e v e n t h e c a r r y i n g o f s w o r ds a nd

bo w s . i f t h os e t h i n gs w e r e n o t c o n s i de r ed a s t h i n gs t o be

a s h a m ed o f r a t h e r t h a n o r n a m e n t s , as t he M i s h n a (T r a c t .

S a b b a t h ) c l ea r l y s t a t es . B u t t h e e x p r ess i o n " S e r v e d O n”

r e fe r s t o t h e c us to m a r y v e r se s o r i m a ges . T h us t h i s c a se i s

e x a c t l y s i m i la r t o t h a t o f a r i n g , w h i c h i s a l l o w ed to be w o r n

o n t h e S a bba t h o nlv w h e n i t ha s a sea l e n g r a v e d u po n i t , b t r t

n o t O t h e r w i se . We a r e t h e fi r s t t o p ro pose t h i s e x p la n a t i o n

a nd fo r t h i s h a v e e a r n e d t h e p r a i s es o f m a n y S c h o la rs .

18)”O ne i s a l l o w e d to p u t o n t h e t e p h i l l i m o r t o b r i n g

t h e m i n to t h e h o us e,o n e pa i r a t a t i m e , i n c a se h e f i n d t h e m

1 4

I t appea r s t ha t t he doc to r s of t he .\ I i shna r ega rded

am u l e t s a s o r n am e n t s o n l y i n r espec t t o w om en , t he

fa i r sex be i ng,r u s u a l l y fon d of ado r n i ng t h em se l v es,

as r ega r d s m en, t h e y con s i d e r ed am u l e t s p r ese r v

a t i v es l'

r om s pe l l s and e v i l sp i r i t s . Be l i e v i ng , as t he y

did, t ha t i t w o u ld no t be n ec es sa r y t o w ea r t h em on

t he Sabbat h , t he sane t i t v o i'

t he da r be i ng v i e w ed as a

sutfic i ent p r o t ec t i on , t he r fo r bade w ea r i ng t h em o n

t he Sabba t h e xcep t i n ex t r ao r d i na r y c ases .

A t t he t i m e of t he .\ni or a i m i n B abvlon t he nam e

Tota pho th ga v e w a r t o t ha t o i qc t i p h ta o r hum r a te d i

get ip li m ( s h ee p-

t s m e i n) w h i c h l a t t e r a t t he t i m e of

A bba y e and R abh a,

“The p i l l a r s of t he B ab y l o n i a n

Ta lm u d ,w a s con s i de r ed a s a n app r o v ed and gene r

a l l y accept ed am u l e t B ut a cent ur v l a t e r, i n t he

o n t he s t r ee t u po n t h e S a bba t h , i n o r de r t h a t t he r e s pec t d ue

t o h o ly t h i n gs m a y n o t be l e ss e n ed by see i n g t h em i n a n no

w o r t h y s i t ua t i o n . (T ra c t . E r u b i n, S ec t . H a m o t z e T e

p h i l l l m . S e e a ls o o u r l’hv l. R i t . p , “ 8 e t s eq . a nd f u r t h e r

o n he r e ) .

to) T h a t A bba y e e x p la i n e d t h e pa s sa ge l i k e t h e la t e rum nm e nt a t o rs . r e fe rr i n g t h e se w i n g - o u t o t he ha i n ne t , i s c l ea r

f r om h i s obj ec t i o n : “ L e t i t be c o n s i d e re d l i k e an a pp r o v ed

a m u l e t " . Fo r i t h e had unde rs t m d i t a s w e do,h e c o u l d n o t h a v e

— 15

t i m e o t'

B . J ehuda of D i ph t a , w e fi nd t he w om e n w ea r

ing an o t h e r k i nd of h ead o r n am en t k no w n b y t he

nam e of a b s a v i m ( a k i nd of ba nd ea u ) and t he

t o t a p h o t h becam e obso l e t e an d k no w n t o t he A nne

r a i m on l y b y na n t e . 20)

c o n s i de r ed i t a n a m u l e t a t a ll ; s i n c e h e w as no t a r gu i n g a bo u t

t he t o t a p o t h w h i c h w e r e u n k n o w n to h i m,but w a s a n s w e r

m g R . jos e p h , w ho w a s t a l k i n g a bo u t t he h u m r a t e d i

q e t i p h t a w h i c h w a s w e l l k n o w n t o h i m . A n d pe r ha ps t he

h u m r a t e d i - q e t i p h t a w a s so m a de t h a t t he v e r ses w e r e

a t ta c h e d t o i t f r om t h e be g i n n i n g . B u t e v e n i fA b ba ve h e ld t he

v i e w la t e r a do p t e d b v t he c om m e n t a t o r s , t h i s does n o t d i s

p r o v e o ur e x p la n a t i o n ; fo r t he la t e r doc t o r s of t he Ta lm ud ,

l i v i n g c e n t u r i es a f t e r t he fi rs t a u t h o r i t i es o f t he M i s h n a a nd

i n a fa r - o ff c ount r y. no t se ldom m i s u n de r s t ood t h e M i s h n a .

Ab ba y e ’s o bj ec t i o n , i n fa c t . r em a i n e d u n a n s w e r e d . O n l y a

c e n t u ry la t e r R . Je huda o f D i ph ta e x p la i n e d i t to be t h e a m u

le t w o r n i n h is o w n t i m e, a s w e h a v e s h o w n i n o ur P h y l . R i t .

p . 99 .

20) Fo r a n e x p la na t i o n o f t h i s s u bj ec t see t l, R i t . p .99 ,

CH A PT E R I V .

T c ph i lli m : t h e i r O r i g i n a nd Fo r m . T h e y o r i g i n a t e i n Ba by ‘

l o n . H i l l e l , R . jo h a n n a h be n Za k k a i .

A m o n gr t he v a r i o u s c u s t om s w h i c h t he H eb r e w s

bo r r o w ed (t om t he B ab y l o n i a n s d u r i ng t he E x i l e , as

for exam p l e t he nom e nc l a t u r e of ange l s , o i'

d e v i l s and

of m ont hs , t he r e w as a l so t he u se of a ne w k i nd of

am u l e t ca l l ed T ebhuli m or Tep h i l l i m ,as t he w o r d i s

u sed i n l a t e r H eb r e w li t er a t ur e'Zl ) , a n am u l e t di t

t'

e rent fr om t he t o t a p li o t h bo t h i n na t u r e a nd i n

s hape o r for m . The nam e t e b h u l i i n i s d e r i v ed fr om

a r oo t t a b h a l : m ea n i ng t o“en w r ap

” o r d r ess t he

head w i t h o r na m en t s an d i s v e r y app r opr i a t e t o

T h e n a m es t e b h u l I i m o r t e p h i l l i m a r e u n do u b t

e dly i de n t i c a l a nd e v e n p r o n ou n c ed a l i ke . di fier i t i g m e r e l y i n

o r t hogr a phv . T h e lla b y lo n i a ns p r o m i s c uo s ly u se d 550 ,

(T h e r oo t m ea n s “ t o j o i n " a nd t h e Ta l m u d i c $30

e n t w i n e d i s p r oba b l y o f t he sa m e r oo t ) . I n le r us a le m T a l

m ud t he s pe l l i n g i s $ 5 51 ,53m ,L i ke w i se t he Ba b y l o n i a n T a l

m ud w r i t es SQ : pan w h e r e t h e le r us a le m Ta l m u d h a s apj n,

2 2 ) In li b b e n S a p p i r w e li a ve d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t

t uc rs t'

s t r a n s la t i o n “ Tu r ba n " i s i n co r r e c t . i t be i n g a n o r n a

m e n t .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

I S

the fi l l e t w h i c h bo u n d i t t o pa s s t h r o u g h t he p r o l o n ga

t i o n l eng t h w i se . T h e e n ds o f the fi l l e t fe l l ac r os s t he

s h o u lde r s o v e r the b r eas t and do w n t o t he l o i n s w h e r e

t h e y w e r e s t u c k i n t he g i r d l e .

fo r m the t e p h i l l i m had i n the t i m e of

E z ek i e l can no t be asce r ta i n ed : but so m u c h i s cer t a i n :

t h ey e n c i r c l ed t he h ead and had appendages t e r m

i na t i ng a t the l o i n s and the r e s t u ck i n the g i r d l e .

E z ek i el u ses the expr ess i o n s e r u c h e t e b h u l i m .

and t he l a t t e r w o r d i s undoubt edlv of B a by l o n i a n

o r i g i n as w o u l d appear fr om E z ek . ( x x i i i . 14.

" Fo r

w h e n s h e s a w n i e n por t r aved u po n the w a l l, the

i m ages of the C h aldea n s po r t r aved w i t h v e r m i l i o n .

g i r ded w i t h g i r d les u po n the i r lo i n s"

.s e r 11 c h e

t e b h u l i tn i . e , , h a n g ing do w n w i t h t e b h u l i m

o r t e p h i l 1 i m .

‘ u po n t h e i r h ead s , all of t h em pr i n

ces t o l ook t o aft e r t he m a n n e r of the B abvloni ans of

t'

haldea , t he l and of t h e i r na t i v i t v e t c . M o r eo v er w e

s ee fr om t hes e pa s s ages t h a t s e r u c h e t e b h u l i m

w a s a m a r k o f d i s t i n c t i on and r a n k . and t e b h u l i m

w e r e t he o r n a m e n t s of p r i n ce s . and l i ke w i s e t h a t p i c t

u r es w e r e d r a w n,ca l l ed bv E z ek i e l . a o

A c co r d i n g t o t he Ta l m u d the fi r s t m e n t i o n o f

t e p h i l l i m w as m ade b y H i l l e l w ho em i g r a t ed

fr om B ab y l oni a and br ough t t h em a l ong w i t h h i m as

an he i r l oom fr om h i s m o t h e r ‘ s fa t h e r ( T a l m u d Je r .

T r ac . N or do w e fi n d any c l ea r B i b l i ca l

pa r aph r ase r ender i ng t 0 t a p h 0 t h b y t e p h i l 1 i m .

Jo n a t h a n be n U z i el, the Sam a r i t a n Ta r g u m, andm a n y

o t h e r s d o not t r a n s l a t e the w o r d . T h e Sept u agi n t r en

d er s i t pe r i p h r as t i ca l ly b y (M d/U W O V (som e t h i n g

s t i l l o r u nm o v ed ) and i n t he sam e sense did A q u i l a i n

2 3) I n our Ph y l . R i t . w e doub t ed w h e t h e r t h i s H i l l e l w a s

I t 3 - 2 a q e n ( t h e E l de r ) o r , H a - N a s s i ( t h e P r i n ce) , t h e l a t te r

f l ou r i s h i n g a gene r a t i o n a f te r t h e fo rm e r . T h i s doub t “ as c aus cd

b y our u n ce r ta i n t y o f t h e de r i v a t i o n o f t h e w ord t e p h i l l i m . We

t h e r e fo l l ow ed t h e l a te D r . As h e r ,w ho a ssum ed i t to be a

c o r ru p t i o n o f t h e G r eek t o (pvl a x r rjp t o zf ; bu t no w h a v i n g

found t h e n am e to he o f Baby l o n i a n o r i g i n and t h a t i t rem a i n ed

u n c h a n ged do w n to our o w n t i m e,w e see n o r e aso n w hy w e

s h ou l d no t re l y upo n t h e s ta tem e n t of t h e Je r . Ta lm ud t h a t i t

w as H i l l el t h e H a - Z a q e n . h a v e c h a n ged our op i n i o n o n a

n um be r o f po i n t s m a i n t a i n ed i n P h y l . R i t . o n a ccou n t o f la te r

i n v es t i ga t i o n s w h i c h p r o v e t h a t t e p h i 1 l i m a r e e n t i re l y d i s t i n c t

f rom t o t a p h o t h , and t h a t t h e la t te r n e v er c h a n ged t h e i r n am e ,

w h i c h bec am e obso le te toge t h e r w i t h t h e use o f t h e t h i n g

( se l f .

20

h i s t r a n s l a t i o n A t any r a t e be fo r e H i l l e l i n t r od u c ed

i t t he n a m e t e p h i l l i tn w as no t k n o w n i n F a l e s t i

"e

i t . .lo haunan be lt Za k ka i . a d i sc i p l e o f H i l l e l

r ecei v i n g t he t e p h i l l i m fr om h i m . began t o w ea r

t h em and did no t t ake t h em o ff h i s h ead t he w h o l e

da v. bo t h i t t s u m m e r and w i n t e r . So t he Ta lm u d

r e l a t es (T ra c t . S u k k a . fol.2b ) . Fr om lt . Johannan

t h e r spr ea d t o h i s d i s c i p l es and t h e i r fo l l o w e r s , but.

t h e r w e r e no t w o r n by t he com m on peop l e . nor w e r e

t h ey a c cept ed a m o ng t he l’a r t h i au sc h o l a r s

2 4) Fo r fu r t h e r ex p la n a t i o n s o n t h i s po i n t see l’hvl. R i t .

p . 1 09 .

2 5) P r i o r to t h e t i m e o f H i l l e l'

s d i s c i p les w e f i n d n o m e n t i o n

e i t h e r o f t e p h i l l i m o r o f t h e i r use . E v e n H i l l el h i m se l f i s

n e ve r m e n t i o n ed a s h a v i n g w o r n t h em . We k n o w fu r t h e r t h a t

i n Pa l e s t i n e t hev w e re n e v e r a c c epted . S ee No te 2 6 . be lo w . Bu t

Johannan hen Z akka i . t h roug h w h os e i n f l ue n ce t he v w e re c h a n ged

I n t h e i r fo rm and co n te n t s . had suc h a fo n d n es s fo r t h em t h a t

h e did n o t t a ke t h em o f f t h e w h o l e day. A n add i t i o n a l and ven

i m po r ta n t re aso n fo r h i s do i n g t h us w e h a v e g i v e n i n our Ph s l.

K i t . ( 1. v .

26 ) A cco rd i n g to t h e au t h o r o f O r 2 a r u a ‘

3 t—594) t h e

co r re c t re ad i n g i n t h e Ta lm ud i s ‘

22 i f ! :‘

F‘

I 8L? H ’:

Exam -

ins I n our l’hyl. R i t . p . 1 36 w e v e n t u red t h e op i n i o n

t h a t t h e read i n g w i t h i'

fl . i s an t t n~uppo r em e n da t i o n o f t h a tQ

“

l l

U nli elo s . t-he p r o s e lvt e. w ho w r o t e h i s T a r gunt

un de r t he gui d a n c e o f h’

. E l i e z e r and li . ho t h

d i sc i p l e s o f h’

. .lo h annan hen Z i lli li i l i . i s t he fi r s t. t o

r e n de r t o t a p ll 0 t. h hv t e p h i l l i l i t : fo r t he .la m

ll i an S vnedl‘ i onhad a lr e adv a c c ept ed t h em a nd o r d e r ed

p l aced w i t h i n t h e m t he fo u r li i h li e a l t ex t s . a s w i l l

he exp l ai ne d f u r t h e r o n. J u s t as t he t e h h u 1 i m

i n B a by l o n w e r e w o r n o nlv hv m en o f no h i li t v and

r ank . so t he t e p h i l l i m i nt he i r c h a n ged fo r m w e r e

w o r n onlv hv e m i ne n t s c h o l a r s and h_

v pr e s ident s of

t he S vnedr i o n. M o r eo v e r e v e n t he s e p r om i nent m en

c o u l d onlv w ea r t h em u po n r e c e i v i n g s pe c i a l pe r m i s

s i o n fr om t he r ahbi ni ca l a u t h o r i t i es . and t he o ne w ho

r ece i v ed t h i s co n s i de r ed i t a gr e a t, h o o n a nd an e speb

c i al h o n o r T h e enjovm ent of s u c h a pr i v i l ege

au t h o r , S i n ce i t i s n o t fou n d i n t h e l‘e s i q t a d i R . K a h a n a

bu t a f te r h a v i n g ex a m i n ed a ll k n o w n sou r ces w i t h ou t f i n d i n g

t h a t. t h e Pa l es t i n i a n doc to rs had e v e r w o r n t e p h i l l i m ,w e h a v e

n o reaso n to doub t h i s s t a t em e n t and a re w i l l i n g to bel i e v e t h a t

h e had suc h a read i n g be fo re h i m

T h i s w e do t h e m o re g l ad l y s i n c e t rue c xi t i c i s m requ i t es t he

read i n g w i t h I n t h e l’ e > i ( l t a t h e w o rd m u s t h a v e bee n

O m i t ted .

2 7) C i T ra c t . U e c h o r o t h 30 l i , “ he re t o t he ques t io n

b r o u g h t the e s t eem and t he co nfi dence of the people .

and i nonevs w e r e e n t r u s t ed t o t h em w i t h o u t e v en the

prese n ce of a w i t n es s (93 ) S u c h m en w o r e t h e i r t e p h i 1

l i m t he w h o l e (lav.

CH A PTE R V .

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by t h e Jani ni an S y n ed r i o n ; t h e i r c h a n ge i n

t h e T i m e o f t h e A m o ra i m . T h e S a m a r i t a n

A m u le t D o v e ‘ s

W hen t he S vnedr i on u n de r t he pr es i d e n c y of H .

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w as es t ab l i s h ed a t Jani ni a t he

out s i t‘

e. {m m of t l. e i h e p h i 1 l i m unde r w e n t a

c h a n ge . P r e v i o u s t o t ha t t i m e t h e i r fo u r o u t e r s i d es

w e r e c o v e r ed w i t h B i b l e t ex t s (bes i des the i n ca n t a t i ons

and e x o r c i s m s i nc los cd w i t h i n t he c ase) ;hut . t he

W IW t h e ) a r e joyous . the r a bb i s a n s w e r t h a t t h c y “ 6 0! t e p h i l l i m

a l so our t l. R i t . pp . 70 : 94 , n o t e C“

2 8) Je rusa lem Ta l m ud S ec t . I I . l l a l a c h o t h I . , and i d

r a s h and T” e s i q t a ,and a l so c i ted by t he

" Ros h H a shanah"

T o s c p h t a . B e r a i t h a . sec t . I L : and I I a l a c h o t h

(ge t a n o t h .

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t i o n s be t r a n sfe r r ed t o t he i n s i d e

2 9) In our t l. K i t . i n se v e r a l p l a ces , and espec i a l l y o n

p . 107,w e h a v e p ro v ed t h a t t h e c h a n ge t n t h e for m o f t h e t e p h i 1

l i m fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e w a s due to t h e i m i ta t i v e t a ke n b y t h e

Ja m ni an S y n ed r i o n . W i t h ou t h e re repea ti n g a ll t h e a rgum e n t s

t h e r e adduced i n suppor t o f t h e abo v e v i e w ,w e w ou l d s i m p l y add

a fe w po i n ts ga t h e red b y us d u r i n g t h e dec ade fo l l ow i n g t he pub

li c a t ron o f t h a t w o r k .

a i A f te r t h e n am e t e p h t i l i m had been i n t roduced b y

I I i lle l I I a —Z a q e n a s S i g n i fy i n g an am u le t cont ani ng B i b l i c a l

t ex t s a nd a f te r t h a t n am e had ga i n ed cu r re n c y e v e n i n Pa les t i n e .

i t w a s t h e n by t h e sc h oo l s o f t h e doc to r s o f t h e .\ I i shna and t h e

B e ra i tha a l so a pp l i ed to t h e o l d t o t a p h o t h desc r i bed above .

Wh e n e v e r t h e re fo re t h e Ta lm ud re la tes t h a t t h e fi r s t r abb i s w o re

T e p h i l l i m ,t h e a n c i e n t t o t a p h o t h a r e m ea n t . Bu t

i n t h e c ase o f t h e p h y lac te r i es (gar /l a x r rjp u t ) m e n t i o n ed i n

t h e G reek o f M a t t h e w ‘ s gospe l ( X X I I I . and i n t h e S y r i ac

( l r ins e-

r pr i mers m am pr im e s an pm pr i sm) , i t i s doub t

f u l w h e t h e r t h e re fe re n c e i s to t h e o ld t o t a p h o t h w h i c h

t h e P h a r i sees a r e sa i d to h a v e a m p l i f i ed and used a s o r n a m e n t s .

o r to t h e t e p h i l l i m i n t h e fo r m i n w in c h I I i lle l had b roug h t

t h em f rom B ab y l o n ; fo r t h e G reek re n de rs bo t h a l i ke by

T h e S y r i a c aga i n sa y s t h a t j esus de n ou n c ed

t h e b road f i l l e t s bu t n o t t h e a m u le t s t h em se l v es , a s appea r s f rom

u) 4

t lt e e xp re n i nn 2 8 a s W e h a v e e l se w h e re

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em b ro i de r t h e i r t t llc t s , a s la te r w a s do n e bv l lvr ka t t os be n

li li eZe r and t h e d i s c i p les o f .\ i l i ba ,a nd t h a t t h e S v t tac c a l le d

t h e t e p ll i l l i tn a lso m e s . H o w e v e r t h a t be , ce r ta i n i t i s t h a t

i f t h a t de n u n c i a t i o n re fe r red to t h e t e p h i 1 l i m , t h a t c i r

c um s t ance w as o n e o f t h e reaso n s w h i ch p rom p ted t h e S y n ed

r i m : t o c h a n ge the i r fo r m .

b ) l i n t i n o ur op i n i o n t h e ( i reek t e n de r i n g ( rp t'd t t x rnp l o y )

i s ent i re lv w ro n g t a s w e h a v e s h o w n i n our l‘

hvl. R i t . l, and

le s t t s de n ou n ced onlv t he ant plt fi ca t i o n o f t he doc to r s" go w n s

n o t s pea k i n g a t a ll o f t h e t o t a p lt o t lt o r t e p h i l l i m

. S e e l’hvl. li i t . p . l06 . l Fo r t h e T a m ud t l’

ra c t 5 It a b b a t ItO

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i n R .

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f E l i s h a . t h e M an o f t h e w i n gs rel a tes t lt a t E l i s h a w as ca l l ed

t lt e M an o f t h e w i n gs ( 2 ‘

3 33 bec a use o n c e h e w o re t e p h i l

l i t t i i rt d i s rega rd o f t h e p ro h i b i t i o n o f t h e go v e r n m e n t .

pu r s ued by a lua e s t o r and c aug h t b y lt i tn .h e s h o w ed to the

la t te r t h a t w h a t h e w o re w er e no t t e p h i 1 l i i n bu t do v e ‘ s w i n g s .

H e re t h e Ta l m ud , o f cou rse i n sa y i n g t e p h i l l i m . re fe rs to

t he a n c i e n t E gy pt i a n t o t a p li o t h . t h e la t te r n a m e h av i n g

t h e n be t t t t t e e t t t i t e lv obs o le te . a s w e h a v e ex p la i n ed abo v e .

N o w t he la te D r . K ro c hnt a l. co n te n d i n g aga tns t our t h e o r y

t h a t the t e p It i l l i tt t w e re t e fc rnt ed by t he l a m n i a n S v t t edr i on.

a rldt t c e s t h e i n c ide n t o f E l i s h a ,t he

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objec t i o n .s i n ce t h e S am a r i ta n s w e r e a t pea ce w i t h t h e G reeks ,

a nd so le t h i m o ff f ree .

I t i s u n n ec essa r y t o suppose w i t h D r . K roc h m a l t h a t t h e

ex p ress i o n " do v e 's w i n gs "

i n d i ca tes t h a t h li sha b r i bed t h e quaes to r

W l lh m o n ey . i t be i n g a p la y fu l a l l us i o n to t he passage i n Ps a . l x v i i i .“t he w i n gs o f a do ve co v e red w i t h s i l v e r S uc h a m a u i n g w ou l d

be fa r - fe tc h ed and w ou l d bes i des i m pu te to t h e Ta l m ud i s t s ' de

c ep t i on ,m a k i n g t h em ra i se a case o f b r i ber y to t h a t o f a m i

ra c l e . T h e Ta lm ud i s t s w e re w i se tea c h e rs , n o '. s h re w d i m pos te r s

l i n t ac co rd i n g to our ex p l a n a t i o n t hev ca l l ed i t a m i ra c l e t h a t

li l i s h a had t h e p rude n c e to p ro v i de h i m s e l f w i t h a S am a r i ta n

a m u le t and i hc rebv sa v e h i s li fe . A c c ondi ngly t h e se n se o f R .

lani i a i'

s d i c tum i s t h a t u ho soevu i s n o t a t t h e s t a r t p r ude n t i n

rega rd to t he poss i bl e c onse i uenc es o f h i s a c t i o n s s h ou l d n o t

w ea r tep h i l l i m i n t i m es o f da n ge r .

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Jo li a i t i t an. t h a t t h e a c t o f Je roboam's rebel l i o n aga i n s t K i n g S olo

m on co n s i s t ed i i i h i s ta k i n g o f f h i s tep h i l l i m i i i t h e la t te r ’s p rese n ce ;

t h a t i s . h e I O U k o f f t h e a m u le t w h i c h t h e H eb re w s used to w ea r b y

o rde r o f K i n g S olom o n as a token o f a l l eg i a n ce to h i s r o ya l t y . as w e

h a v e p re v i ous l y sa i d t h a t ani i i le t s va r i ed w i t h t h e na t i ona li ty and

re l ig i o n o f t h e w ea re r and w e r e c h a ra c te r i s t i c o f t h em . T h us b y

t ak i n g o ff h i s tep h i l l i m j e roboa m reno s t i c ed hi s a l l eg i a n ce to t h e

k i n g . T h e g i ve n ex p l a n a t i o n s li eds li gli t a l s o upo n an a l l ego r i c a l

passage i n t h e Ta l m ud i n w h i c h i t i s m a i n ta i n ed t h a t t h e tep h i l l i m

Wo r n by G od bea r t h e i n sc r i p t i o n ’ A n d w ho i s l i ke u n to

t he peop l e I s r a e l . o n e na t i o n o n e a r t h H e re God

I tr add i t i o n t o t h a t t h e y o rde red t h a t t he t e x t s i i t

w h i c h t he w o r ds "

and t h e y s h a l l be as fr o i i t le t s

( t o t a p h 0 t h ) b ee t w eeu t h i n e e v e s a r e m e n t i o n e d

be w r i t t e n o n pa r ch m e n t and a l s o p l a c ed i ns i de0

0

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R abb i Joli annan hen Zak ka i w as t he fi r s t. an dpe r h a ps

the o n l y o n e of h i s t i m e w ho w or e t he t e p It i l l i i n

co n t i n u ally .

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r i o n t o pass t h a t la w i s t o be. fo u n d i n t he fac t t h a t

J e w i s h C h r i s t i an s had t h e n beg u n t o u se t h ose a t t i i i le t s

i s sa i d to w ea r an a m u le t w i t h t h e c h a ra c te r i s t i c i n s c r i p t i o n

m ea n i n g t h a t H e a lw avs s h o w s to t h e w o r l d t h e p ro v i de n t c a re

and w a t c h fu l n ess exe r c i sed b v ll i m o v e r ll i s c h o se n Peop l e .

\Ve h a v e t h us fa r e n um e r a ted a ll t h e passages i n w h i c h t h e

r e p h i l l i m a r e m e n t i o n ed i i i co n n ec t i o n w i t h t h e a n c i e n t R abb i s .

A s to t h e fo r t y m ea su res o f t e p li i l l i m ca s i n gs sa id to h a v e

bee n fou n d a t t h e des t ru c t i o n o f lle t he r , t h e re o f cou r se t he

c us tom a r y Je w i s h t e p h i l l i ui a re m ea n t .

30) R abba n Ga m a l i e l,t h e p res i de n t o f t h e Ja m t i i an .

\ynedr i on

sa v s i n t h e sec t i o n H a m a t s o T e p h i l l i m t h a t i f o n e f i n d

t e p h i l l i m o n a S abba t h - day,w h e t h e r t h e y be n e w o r o l d

o n es, o r w h e t h e r t he f i n de r be a m an O r a w om a n . h e o r s h e m a y

pu t o n, t w o pa i rs a t a t i m e , and c a r ry t h t m h om e . h a v e

s li o w n ( l‘ hyl. R i t . pp . 1 1 8 . 1 10) t h a t by n e w t e p h i l l i m R .

f i a m a li e l m ea n t t h ose t h a t w e re i n t roduced i t r h i s o w n t i m e .w h i le

fo r pr opaga t i n g t h e i r re l i g i o n . havi ng addr d to the

o l d e r t ex t s m i ne pa t- sage s from t he G ospe l a c c o rd i n g

t o Jo h n

l’o r t he sa m e r e aso n a n u m be r o f l a w s w e r e added

t o M i s h n a . Fo r exa m p le :“ i f one de n i es t o t he t e p

h i I l i I ll li i b li e al a u t h o r i t y , he eonnn i t s t h e r e b y no

hy o ld o n es Ire m e nt t he anc i r nt l’gyp t i an t o t a p h o t lr . w h ich

had t h e n n o t ye t l os t t h e i r h o l d r rpo n t h e peo p l e a nd w e r e a l s o

w o r n b y w om e n . T h i s pa ss a ge s u p po r t s s t ro n g l y o u r o p i n i o n s,

[o r It . ( i a rnnli e l i s t he li r s t a l t e r R . Jo ha nna n be n Za lt lt a i b y

w h om nre nt i o n i s m a de o f t e p h i I t i tn . I t i s f u r t h e r poss i b l e

t h a t . bec a us e t h e t e p lr i l l i nr did no t a t fi rs t ga i n ge n e r a l

a cc e p t a n c e a nro ng t he l ea r n e d rne n o l Pa l e s t i n e , R . je h t rda

( i . e . R . Je huda be n llla i o i je r t t s a le tnl. w h i l e h e a l l o w ed o l d

o n es.fo r ba d e ne w o n es . We n eed n o t a t a ll a ss u m e , a s w e di d

I l l o nr l‘hyl, R i t t h a t Je l i n d a . tlo rr r i s lr i ng fo u r ge n e r a t i o n s

a l t e r R . U a rna li e l. m ea n t b y o l d t e p I t i H i m t h e sa m e t h a t

R . t i a nra li e l d es i g n a t ed a s ne w o n es . llu t i t i s poss i b l e t h a t

a t t h e t i m e o f R . je huda t he j e w i s h C h r i s t i a n s had begu n to

i do f a t h e i r t e p h i l l i a t w i t h t h e l e t t e r S h i n KL" ) a nd o t h e r

t i g t t r e s , w h i c h t h e y ha d n o t do n e ye t a t t h e t i m e o l R . t i a ra n

l i c l. a nd t h a t t he r e lo r e R . je lr t tda lo r b ade to w e a r t h e m .

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r a d i t i o n; l l i s t o i r e d c l a ll i b l e p a r C o l a nr e n t p .

3 ; C ha li o n l . 307. I I . l l a c h a l n t a , v o l . p . 50; and

o ur P h y l . R i t . . pp . 00—87.

t r a n sg r ess i o n : but i f he ,e o nt rnr r ' t o t he e na e t rne nt o l

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t he r a bb i s , m a i n t a i ns t he ne ee s s i ty o f t'

i v e t o t a

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ll e d t’ i ll

,li d. 3 8 ) I i y t h ese l i v e t o t- u p h o t h t h e y

r e fe r r ed to t he c u s t o m o f Je w i s h C h r i s t i a ns , w ho add

ed : r fi ft h to t he to u r u s u a l I i i bli e a l passag e s 3 3 )

Fo r a s i m i l ar r e a so n t h e y e na e t ed (M e n a h, ne t - l i o n

“no a m e t a li a b b a ) t h at no ne o l'

t he t o u r t e x t s

o f t he ti e p h i l l i t l t S h o u l d be o m i t t ed,i l l o rd e r t o

p r e v e n t t h e s u bs t i t u t i o n o f s o m e t ex t fr o m t he t i t t t-t lt t' t

to r t he o m i t t ed o ne . I t, i s l'

nr t he r pr o ba b l e t h a t t ho

3 2 ) T h i s M i s h n a m i g h t h a v e be e n u t t e r e d a l so a t t he t i m e

w h e n t he tou r li i b li c a t t e x t s W e re e ng r a Ve d o n t he ou t s ide o f

t he t e p h i l l i i n ,a nd t h e Je w i s h (

‘

h r i at i a na rnrns t h a v e adrlt rl

a t i lt h spa c e t i t l ed w i t h t e x t s f rom Jo h n's ( i o S pc l. lt t he r e to r c

s a y s “I rve t o t a p h o t h a nd no t nve t e x t a o r ll i ble

se c t io n s . T h i s lt L‘ U t t l t L'

ts r lr a r fr o m a n o t h e r nn i rpre s ayi n g

n a m e l y : "i t o ne r le nv t o t he t e p tr i l l i nr a u t h o r i t y i n U rdu

t o t ra n sg r e s s t h e la w"

,e t c . li y t h i s i s m ea n t t h a t i t o ne

de no unt e d t he w e a r i n g o f t e p h i l l i m w i t h t he obje c t i n

v i e w o f des t royi n g t he li i lr lr t e x t s e n g r a v ed o n t h e m , h e

do c- is no t i n cu r pu n i s h m e n t , fo r t he ob l i ga t i o n o f w e a r i n g

t e p h i l l i m u. no t ba sed o n H i h li ca l a u t h o r i t y ; but h e

does i n c u r pu n i s h m e n t i t Ire a t t em pt s t o m a ke add i t i o n !. t o

t he n o r m s g i v e n by t he r a bb i s ,i n s uc h a c a se be i n g co n s i d e r ed

a di s s c lt l t‘ t .

3a

la w t h a t t he om i s s i o n of the h a n d phv lac t er v doe s no t

a ffe c t t he l ega l i t y of t h a t of t he lt ead ( Sec t i o n H a

t a c h e 1 e t 11 ) w as e n a c t ed bv w a r of r ea c t i o n aga i n s t.

t he abo v e m e n t i o n ed C h r i s t i a n s . fo r t he l a t t e r u sed t o

co v e r t h e i r ph y lac t e r i es w i t h go l d and s i l v er and w o r e

t h em t oge t h e r w i t h t h e i r c r oss w ea r i n g t h em a l

w a y s i n pa i r s . on e o n t he a r m and o n e o n t he h ead. I n

fac t i t i s ent i r e l y d u e t o the C h r i s t i a n s t h a t the s u bjec t

i s m e n t i oned i n t he M i sh n a a t a ll. T he Les t pr eo t of

t h i s i s i t s om i ss i o n i n i t s pr ope r p l ace . the t r ac t o n

be n ed i c t i o n s . w h e r e suc h s u bjec t s a s pr a y er and de v o

t i o n a re m i nut elv t r ea t ed . I n s tead of t h i s the phvlac

t er i es a r e m ent i o n ed . cur i ous lv. i n t he t r ac t on

offe r i n gs e n a h o t h ) . a s u bjec t w h i c h does not

conce r n u s a t a ll in m oder n t i m es . M o r eo v er n o m en

t i o n i s m ade i n t he M i s hna abo u t t he w r i t i ng or m a k i n g

of t e p h i ll i rn or t o t a p h o t h . t h o u g h t he doc t o r s

go i n t o t he nr i nut c s t d e t a i l s abo u t a ll ot h e r m a t te r s

co n n e c t ed w i t h the r e l i g i o u s pr ac t i ces of the Je w s

33) h a v e a l read y dem o n s t r a ted i n P h yl . R i t . p . 56 ,

( and a t l e n g t h o n p . 65 u n de r t h e h ea d i n g (7 p 3 8 ) t h a t

lhe M i s h n a .\ leg i lla .

“

I t o n e co v e r t h em w i t h gol d. e t c .

h eac t s l i ke a d i sse n te r . re fe r s to t h e je w i s h C h r i s t i a n s .

34) S ee P h y l . R i t . p . 66, n o te 1 . a nd E b b e n S a p

"

p t r . p . t o . . n o t e 2 7. I n t he for m e r w e h a v e a l so s h o w n t h a t

T h e r ea s o n o f th i s i s s i m p l e . T h e doc t o r s of the M i s h

na w e r e no t a t all co n ce r n ed w i t h am ulc t s : the y e v e n

for bade o n e t o r esc u e t h em fr om a fi r e o n the Sabba t h

T h e y a l l o w ed the w ear i ng of an app r o v ed am u le t o n

the S abbat h on l y bec ause t h ey had t o v i eld t o pop u l ar

s u per s t i t i on. I f t h e y had fo r b i dde n t h e in a l t oge t h e r .

the peop l e w ou ld ha v e r efu sed obed i e n ce , for t h e y

beli e v ed t h a t t he i r li fe and h app i n ess depended upo n

t h e i r am u l e t s : w h i l e the doc t o r s t h em s e l v es did no t

( a r e fo r them . and e v e n t e p h i l l i m w e r e

w o r n b y onlv a v e r y few of t h em . and t h at u po n

ex t r aordinar v occas i o n s

e v e n i n .\ l a s r q t a S o p h e t i m

,a l a te r w o r k

,n o l a w s fo r

t e p h i l l i m a r e g i v e n , and t h e y a r e m e n t i o n ed o n l y i n c i

d e n t a l l y .

3 5) I n P h yl . R i t . w e h a v e s h ow n t h a t n e i t h e r R . Ga

m a li c l no r Ix’

. E l i eze r L en H yrk ano s w o r e t e p h i l l i m “

t h oug h t h e m os t p rom i n e n t a m o n g t he di sc rples o f R . Jo h a n

nan be n Z a k k a i,

a nd t h a t o n l y t h e l a te r r abb i s , assoc i a t i n g

w i t h r0) a lt y , and a fe w o t h e r s i n t h e s m e pos i t i o n , w or e

t h em,a s a m a r k o f d i gn i ty. S e e a l so i b i d . p . n o te 2 .

T h e re i s a l so an add i t i o n a l p roo f o f t h e rece n t o r i g i n o f t h e

t e p h i I i t in from t h e B o r a t t h a '

s ques t io n , “H o w a re

t h e y a r r a n ged " . F rom t h i s w e see , t h a t i t w as ne w , and t h e y

«l td nr t k n o w ho w to a r r a n ge t h em .

312

A ft e r t he ne w fo r m of the t e p h i l l i m

w as fi xed b y t he J am ni an S y n ed r i o n and appr o v ed

b y t he l ea r n ed H eb r e w s of t h a t t i m e . the follo w e r s

of R . E l i e z e r and R . J os h u a bega n to seek i n

t he B i b l e s om e s u ppo r t for t h i s fo r m of the

t e p h i l l i m . R . A q i ba t h o u gh t t h a t t he w o r d

t o t a p h 0 t 11 co u ld be exp l a i n ed as r efe r r i n g t o

t he “

fo u r"

B i b l i ca l t ex t s p l aced i n the t e p h i 1 l i m ,

s i n ce t o t and p h a t h h a v e i n d i ffe r e n t la n g u

ages eac h the m ea n i ng of “t w o

"R . I s h m ael w a s

of the op i n i o n t h a t som e s u ppo r t of the for m

co u l d be fo u n d i n the u se and t he om i ss i o n of

t he t w o l e t t er s Vav ( 1 ) i n t he w or d h i m

as m e t w i t h i n t he B i b l e e t c . O t h e r s e v e n v e n

t ur ed t o fi n d som e i n d i ca t i o n i n the B i ble as t o

the p l ace w h e r e t he t e p h i l li m o u gh t t o be

w o r n ; for i ns t a n ce . o n e rabb i w as of the op i n i on

t h a t t h e y s h o u l d be w o r n o n th e left h a n d . ba s i n g

h i s op i n i o n o n t he add i t i o n o f t he l e t t e r H e ( 71 )

i n t he w o r d w h i c h i s ve r v se l dom added

i n t he fo r m a t i o n of the seco nd p e r so n i n t he Heb

r e w lang u age , and be d i v i ded t he w o rd ( thy

hand) i n t o t w o s epa r a t e w o r ds,1

‘

( h an d ) and 71 n D

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34

t o c h a n ge t he fo r m of the t e p h i l l i m w as beca u se

t h e y w i s h ed t o pr e v e n t t he peop l e fr om i doli z i n g

t h em . as t h ose of ot h e r r e l i g i o u s c r eed s di d, and

a s aft e r w a r ds the C h r i s t i a n s i do l i z ed the c r oss and

t he p i c t u r es of t h e i r Mess i a h and the apos t l es .

H a v i n g t h e n i n v i e w t h ese t w o t h i n gs t o

s t r e n gt h e n t he be l i ef i n the t e p h i l 1 i m and t o

p r e v en t t h e i r be i ng r ega r ded as obj ec t s of w o r s h i p ,

t he r a bb i s a lw avs i n t he fi r s t p l ace e nd ea v o r ed to g i v e

m u c h v a l u e t o t hem b y desc r i b i ng t h em as “ G od'

s

Wo r d and by fi nd i ng som e fo u nd a t i o n for t h em

i n t he B i bl e t o oppose to t hose w ho c l a i m ed t h at t h e r e

w as no R i b ' i ca l a u t ho r i t y w h a t e v er fo r t h e i r u se . and

t h en i n t he second p l ace t h e y en dea v o r ed t o p r e v en t

t he com m on people fr om w ea r i ng t h em t oo oft e n and

so i n t he co u r se of t i m e g i v i ng t h em a s u per s t i t i o u s

r e v e r ence . A nd t h e r efo r e a ll t h e i r w r i t i ng and S pea k

i ng on t he s u bj ec t w a s fr om a pur elv t h eo r e t i ca l po i n t

o f v i e w , a s t hc v t h em se l v es w o r e t h em e i t h e r v e r y se l

do m o r no t a t a ll. ( 36 ) B ut a ll t h ese p r eca u t i on s w e r e

36 ) I n our P h y l . R i t . w e h a v e m e n t i o n ed a ll w ho di d

no t aba n do n t h e i r us e o f t o t a p h o t h o r t e p h i l l i m. and

t hev a r c ve rv fe w .

— 35

i n v a i n,as t hose w ho w o r s h i pped J es u s as t he M ess i a h

s oon l ea r n ed t o obe y a l l t h ese r es t r i c t i on s as Pha r i sees

and a t t he sam e t i m e not to abando n t he i r ow n p r i n

c i ples as w i l l be s ho w n fu r t h e r o n .

T h e J e w i s h C h r i st i an s , w ho w e r e not e n t i r e l y

sepa r at ed fr om t he P h a r i sees an d w ho adop t ed a l l t he

re fo r m s of t h a t sec t but w ho i n add i t i o n be l i e v ed i n

C h r i s t an d h i s r es u r r ec t i on,h ad a l so adop t ed t h i s new

r efor m i n r eg ar d t o t he tep h i ll i m . A nd so t h e y a l so

w r o t e t he fo u r t ex t s o n pa r c hm en t and p l aced t hem

i n s i de t he cases,but t hev a t t he sam e t i m e spa r ed

no t h i ng t o em p l o y ever v a v a i l ab l e m ean s of pr opaga t

i ng t he i r ow n doc t r i n es . Fo r t h i s p u r pose t he y pa i n

t ed t he o u t s i de of t h e i r tep h i lli m r ed,as i n m em o r y o r

C h r i s t ’s b l ood . The P h a r i sees t he n i m m ed i a t e l y pa s

sed a r eso l u t i on fo r b i dd i ng t h i s co l o r for t he t ep h i lli m

as be i ng u n s igh t l y ( .llenrzc li oth and t h e n t he C h r i s t

i an s adopt ed t he t h r ee h eaded l e t t e r Sh i n L"

) of t he

H eb r e w a l ph abe t as a s y m bo l of t he t r i n i t y .

Fr om t he t r ad i t i o n k no w n as [ I d la C /LOU L le M oshe

m i - S z’

na i ( t he t r ad i t i o n g i v e n t o Moses fr om G od o n

M t . S i n a i ) and w h i c h p r esc r i bes t he l e t t e r s D a l e t h (1 )

and J od h fo r t he tep h i lli m ,w h i c h a r e no t ad m i t t ed

b y t he Tosep hot/i . w e m a y j u dge t h a t t h ese t w o l e t t e r s

w e r e p la ced u pon t he teph i lli m b y t he J e w i s h C h r i s t

i a ns . The "t w as t he abb r e v i a t i o n of 1 11 (73 )

“ so n of

D a v i d and t he of m " “ Jes u s ”. These w e r e u sed

t oge t he r w i t h t he L ". t he em b l em of t he t r i n i t y . The

t r u e m ean i ng of t h ese l et t e r s t h e y e n dea v o r ed t o c on

cea l fr om t he Ph a r i sees b y exp l a i n i ng t h a t ‘ l an d t t o

ge t h e r w i t h ( t?

) h ad t he m ean i ng of “ The A l

m i gh t y The J e w i s h C h r i s t i an s em p l o y ed d i ffer en t

em bl em s a nd co lo r s a nd asc r i bed t o t h em ce r t a i n r e i a

t i ons to C h r i s t , a nd t he r efo r e t he H eb r e w a u t ho r i t i es

of t hose t i m es fo r bad e al so t he pa i n t i ng of teph i lli m

w h i t e o r g r een ( Rem i t /m w h i c h befo r e w a s per

m i t t ed, and o n l y t he b l ac k co l o r w as a l l o w ed . ( I b i d .

35 , S ha bba th 28 W i t h t he sa m e obj ec t i n v i e w t he

H eb r e w a u t ho r i t i es,i nasm u c h a s t h e y h ad not t he

po w e r t o d i sp l ace t he w o r d “T .

"of t he teph i lli m e v e n

t ho u gh t he J e w i s h C h r i s t i an s ga v e i t t h e i r o w n m ean

i ng ,con s i d e r ed i t w i se t o add t o t he l e t t e r Sh i n ( c

t )

one m o r e h ead . t h u s te' . m a k i ng a l e t t e r w h i c h had no

ex i s t ence i n t he H eb r e w a l pha be t . and exp l a i n ed t ha t

t he se fo u r heads i nd i c a ted t he u n i t y o f G od i n t he fo u r

qua r t e r s o f t he w o r l d . T hev t hen a bol i s h ed the t h r ee

h eaded S h i n .

T h e .\ m o r a i i n of t he m iddl e o f t he pe r i od w h en t h ey

flo u r i s h ed , w ho fo u n d so m an y r es t r i c t i o n s i n r ega r d

t o t he tep h i lli m adop t ed b y t hose befo r e t h em ,endeav

o r ed to i n c r ease t he n u m be r of r es t r i ct i o ns . S t i l l t h e y

di d not w a n t t o abo l i sh t he tephi lli m a l t oge t h e r as did

t he a u t ho r i t i es ofJerusalem ,w ho p r o h i b i t ed t h e i r u se o n

acco u n t of t he “t r eac he r o u s peop l e

”

A nd

a l t ho u gh w e fi nd e v en am ong t he A m o r a i m of B ab y l o n

som e w ho u sed t o l a u g h and j ee r a t t he u se of tep h i l

li m ( as for exam p l e , F l a i m o an d R om a ba r Tam r i . (See

C lruli m ,13

,a n d o u r t 1. B i t . 37 and t h e y n e v e r

t heless did no t go fu r t he r t h an to i nc r ease yet m o r e

t he n u m be r of r es t r i c t i on s an d i n t h i s w ay d i m i n i s h

t h e i r u se . Fr om a l l t h i s o r i g i n a t ed t he e i gh t een r u l es

a n d r eg u l a t i on s i n r ega r d t o w r i t i ng and w ea r i ng

37) I n t h e Je r usa l em Talm ud ( ll e r a c h o t 11 I I . Pa r . I )

t h e fo l lo w i n g ex p la n a t i o n i s g i v e n o f t h e “R am a i m A t r a

v e l l e r o n c e o n F r i d a y e v e n i n g depos i ted som e m o n e y i n t h e

h a n ds o f a m an w h om h e took fo r an h ones t o n e , bec ause h e

w o re t e p h i l l i m , a nd w h e n t h e t r a v e l l e r dem a n ded h i s

m o n e y t h e m an de n i ed t h a t h e had rece i v ed i t . T h i s i s t he

ex p l a n a t i o n g i v e n to t h e w o rd D ” R D 1 by t h e A m o r a rm : but

i t c an a l s o be ex p l a i n ed a s re fe r r i n g t o t h e je w i s h C h r i s t i a n s

w ho dec e i v ed t h e P h a r i sees i n to t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e y ag reed w i t h

t h em i n e v e r y t h i n g .

tep h i lli m . I t w as al l d on e b y t he l a t es t A m o r a i m of

B ab y l on . (38) A ft e r w ar d t he n u m be r of r es t r i c t i on s

w as s t i l l fu r t he r i n c r eased , and a t l as t t h e y w e r e for

h i dden to be w o r n b y w om en a n d com m o n peop l e a nd

w e r e r ep l aced b y ano t h e r k i nd of t a l i sm an ca l l ed

G i shr e i M ochsan and so t he tep h i lli m becam e

38) I n our P h y l . R i t . ( p . 200) w e g a v e an ac cou n t o f a ll

t h ese H a l a c h o t h w i t h t h e n am e o f t h e au t h o r o f eac h o n e .

T h e au t h or o f t h e m os t o f t h em w a s R . Je rem i a h , w ho

em i gra ted f rom Baby l o n o n e o f t h em i s f rom R . H a n a n ee l ,

w ho s ta ted t h a t i t o r i g i n a ted w i t h R ab . A n o t h e r H a l a c h a h

o ri gi n a ted w i t h R . Jose ba r B i b i , w ho i s m e n t i o n ed b y Fraen .

ke l i n t h e I n t roduc t i o n to t h e Je r usa l em Ta lm ud as be i n g

n ea r l y re la ted ( t h i r d k i n) to t h e Am ora i m . B i b i , h i s fa t h e r ,

w as no r o f Je rusa l em , bu t o f Baby l o n a s i s e x p la i n ed i n t h e

Heb rew . T h ese w e re a ll au t h o r i t i es o f t h e Bab y l o n i a n Ta lm ud

N o au t h or i t y o f t h e Je rusa l em Ta l m ud ha s s t a ted any H a

l a c h a h l e .\ l o s h e M i - S i n a i o n t h e T e p h i l l i m .

I n t h e Baby l o n i a n Ta lm ud t h e r e a re som e H a l a c h o t h

s t a ted i n t h e n am e o f A b av . bu t .\ I a i m onides and t h e T osepha t

a re unw i lllng to adm i t t h em . O ne H a l a c h a h w as s ta ted

i n t h e n a m e o f R aba o r R ab i Pa po , bu t i t w a s no t pu t i n

p r a c t i ce .

39) S ee our P h y l . R i t . i n m anv p laces . and a l so D r .

D us h ak i a E b b e n S a p p i r . p . 36 .

39

sc a r ce and i n t he co u r se of t i m e t h e y w e r e on l y k no w n

i n t he l i t e r at u r e of t he M i s h n a and B er a i t ha and

am ong t he A m o r a i m . The l a t es t A m o r a i m w ho pr e

ceded t he R a bm u’

m S ebom i,r a i sed t he q u es t i o n am o n g

t h em se l v es w hy t he cer em m y w as so l i t t l e i n u se . (40)

Th i s i s t he h i s t o r y of t he r u l es (41 ) and r eg u l a t i on s ,

and t he c h ange (42) i n t he fo r m of t he tep h i lli m .

40) M a n y o f t h e Am o ra i m w e re a pp ro ved w h e n t h e y o n l y

o n ce pe r for m ed t h e ce rem o n y o f w ea r i n g t h e t e p h i l l i m .

A m o n g t h e good and p i ous t h i n gs asc r i bed to R ab h , t h e

fou n de r o f t h e B aby l o n i a n Ta lm ud and t h e m os t p rom i n e n t m an

o f t h a t t i m e , w a s cou n ted t h e fa c t t h a t f rom t i m e to t i m e h e

w o r e t e p h i I l i m . T h e w ea r i n g o f t e p h i 11 i m w a s sban

t loned o n l y a f te r w a r d i n t h e t i m e o f t h e l a tes t Am o ra i m .

4 1 ) I t w a s n o t a l lo w ed to w ea r t h em w h e n as leep, no r

w h e n t h i n k i n g o f a w om a n , and t h e w ea re r m us t a l w a ys bea r

i n m i n d ( S h u l c h a n A r u c h , O r a c h C h a i m , 378,

O ur P h y l . R i t . C h . VI I . )

42 ) T h e t e p h i l l i m o f R . H i y a w e re t i ed and se w ed

w i t h com m o n flax s t r i n gs ( n o t w i t h a n i m a l s t r i n gs) ( M a k k o t h

H yi k ano s ,t h e so n o f R . E l i eze r used to fas te n t h e

t e p h i l 1 i m w i t h s t r i n gs o f t c c h e l o t h . h a v e g i v e n

o n ly a fe w c h a n ges i n t h e fo r m o f t e p h i l l i m w h i c h w e re

adop ted b y t h e la te r P h a r i sees , bu t h a v e n o t m e n t i o n ed m a n y

c h a n ges adop ted b y t h e T s e d u q i m and b y t he

C H A PTE R VI .

T h e I so la t ed a nd U n e x p la i n e d A r t i c l e i n B ar d/1141 o n t he

O rde r i n w h i c h t he “ Fo u r B i b l i c a l Te x t s ”a r e t o be

p la c ed i n t he Ca ses u n d e r t h e t i t l e p 1 0 t he

W r o n g E x p la n a t i o n o f t h i s by t h e D i ffe r e n t Com m e n t a

to r s o f t h e Ta l m u d w h i c h l e d to M a n y M i s u n de rs t a n d

i n gs i n r e ga r d to t h e H i s to r y o f T ep/u’

d i m : a S ke t c h o f

t h e Fo u r S t y l e s o f t h e o f t h e unle a v

e n ed B r ea d .

T he s u dden c h ange m ad e b y t he J a m ni an S y n e d

r i on i n p la c i ng t he i nsc r i p t i on s i n s i d e t he tep h i lli m

i n s t ead of u pon t he o u t s i d e , t oge t h e r w i t h t he fac t

t h a t t he y w e r e on l y w o r n b y t he l ea r ned a nd v er y r a r e

ly e v en b y t hem , p r o v o k ed peop l e of a l l c l asses t o ac

q u a i n t t hem se l v es w i t h t he fo r m and o r d e r of t he i ns

c r i p t i ons . The r e w as no t h i ng m e n t i on ed abo u t t hem

i n t he .\l i shna except t h a t t h e r e a r e“ fo u r B i bl i ca l

t ex t s E v e n t he fa c t t h a t t he Sy n ed r i on assem bl ed

and pa ssed a r eso l u t i o n s ho w i ng t h a t a m aj o r i t y of

S a m a r i ta n s , ac co rd i n g to t h e O p i n i o n o f .\ I r . H e r z fe l d ( I I . p .

2 2 3) w ho c l a i m s to h a v e fou n d t he w ord t e p h i l l i m i n an

a n c i e n t S am a r i t a n m a n usc r i p t . T h e re w e re som e w ho w ore

r o und t e p h i l l i m , e t c .

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42

t hem as no t a t a l l Opposed to eac h o t h e r a nd ga v e t he

fo l l o w i ng obsc u r e exp l a n a t i on , The r e i t m ea ns t o t he

r i gh t of t he w ea r e r and. here i t m ea n s to t he r i gh t of

t he pe r son loo k i ng a t t h em on t he w ea r e r . ” The r e

a nd h e r e a r e i n t he se n t ence exp r essed b y t he

w o r d 1x3 . N o w t h i s exp l an a t i on of A bba i need s fo r i t .

se lf a l so an exp l a n a t i on : fo r A bba i di d not sa y w h e t he r

“t he r e r efe r s t o t he R em i t/t a a n d he r e

"

t o t he

q u es t i o n o r vi ce ver sa , a s i n t he Ta lm u d som e t i m es w e

fi nd com m en t s m ad e fi r s t u pon t he l a t t e r pa r t of a

q u es t i on . as be i ng fr es h i n t he m em o r y of t he ques t

i nne r .

S t i l l fu r t h e r , fr om t he q u es t i on i t se l f w e can no t

d i s t i ng u i s h w he t h e r i t m ea n s t h a t in som e o t h e r p l ace

i t w a s fo u n d t ha t t he t ex t s “ S a nc t i fy t o m e and - \nd

w h en t he L o r d s h a l l br i ng t hee”

w e r e t o be p l aced i n

t he l eft and t he t ex t s “H ea r O I sr ae l ” a nd I f y e

hea r k e n i n t he r igh t , or t h a t“S an c t i fy t o m e

” and

H ea r O I s r a e l w e r e p l a ced i n t he r i gh t an d “Wh e n

t heLo r d s ha l l b r i ng t h ee and I f y e h ea r k e n ”

i n

t he left . H ence t h i s ob .

~eur e exp l a n a t i on of A bba i

beca m e t he c a u s e o f ado pt i ug fo u r di ffe r e n t s t y l es of

tep /t i lli m w o r n on t he h ead and t w o d i ffe r en t s t y l e s

w o r n o n t he hand. These w e r e fr om fo u r d i ffe r e n t

43

a u t ho r i t i es ; n am e l y , t he s t y l e of li ft s/t i ( R .Sal am o n be n

I saac) and illa i m on i des,t he s t y l e of R . Ta m . (J acob ) ,

t he s t y l e k n o w n as S c/zem usche R a bba,and t he s t y l e

of R a bad (R . A b r a h am be n D a v i d of Pask i r a ) . Th ese

di sp u t e w i t h on e ano t h e r i n t he Ta lm u d . Th e d i ffe r en t

s t y l es of tep h i ll i m a r e e x h i b i t ed in t he fo l l o w i ng

t ab l e '

Th e Teph i l l i m w o r n u po n t he fo r e h ead .

A cc o rdi ng t o A c c o rd i ng t oA c c o rdi ng t o A c c ordi ng t oS hem us he R a sh i

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I f t h e r e w e r e n o com m en t a r i es u pon t he abo v e

m en t i oned w e w o u l d exp l a i n i t as fo l l o w s

T h e q u es t i on as t o t he o r d e r of t he fo u r Bi b l i ca l t ex t s

d oes no t r e la t e t o t he o r d e r of t h e i r pos i t i on aft er be i ng

loca t ed i ns i d e t he cases . but t o t he o r d e r i n w h i ch

t h e y u sed to be eng r a v ed on t he o u t s i d e of t he cases of

t he t eph i lli m . The y w e r e s u pposed t o h a v e r em a i n ed

i n t he sam e o r de r aft e r t h e y w e r e p l aced i ns i de t he

t ep h i lli m . U pon t he q u es t i on t h e n t'

o‘low s t he an s w e r"

The t ex t s E x . x i i i . 1 - 10 an d fi x . x i i i . 1 1 - 16 w e r e t o be

p l aced on t he r igh t ( i . e . t he w r i t i ng beg an a t t he

r i g h t s i d e of t he ea se ) and t he t ex t s D ent . v i . 4- 10a nd

D ent 14 - 20on t he l eft . t h u s

I t shouhl be bo r n e i n m i nd t h at t he Heb r ew r ead s

fr om r i gh t t o l eft i n t he d i r ec t i on of t he a r r o w s .

«1 5

“ The r eade r w i ll r ead t h em fr om h i s r igh t t o t he

l eft i n t he sam e o r de r as t he y a r e i n t he B i b l e (43 )

F i r s t E x . x i i i . 1 - 10 an d t h en E x . x i i i . 1 1 - 16 e t c . A nd

to t he q u es t i o n i m p l y i ng t h at t h e r e i s som e p l ace i n

w h i c h i t i s sa i d t h a t t he o r d e r of t h ese t ex t s i s t he co n

t r a ry, A bba y an sw e r ed t h a t i t m ean t t h at t he fi r s t t w o

t ex t s w e r e so w r i t t e n a s t o be a t t he l eft of t he pe r so n

w i s h i ng to r e ad t h em,w h i c h i s a t t he r i gh t of t he per

so n w ea r i ng t h em a n d tha t t he l as t t w o t ex t s w e r e a t

t he r i gh t,but i n t he s am e o r de r as t h e y a r e i n t he

B i ble . A cco r d i ng to A bba y t h e r e i s no di fi er ence how

t he t ex t s a r e excep t t h a t t h e y m u s t be r ead i n t he or

d e r as t h e y a r e i n t he B i b l e ; n am e l y , E x . x i i i . 1 - 10

p r e v i o u s t o E x . x i i i 1 1 - 16 o n o n e s i de ; an d D e u t . vi . 4

10p r e v i o u s t o D ent . x i . 14- 20 o n t he o t h e r . To co n

43 ) T h e se n t e n c e ,“ T h e r ea de r w i ll r ea d t h e m f r om t he

r i g h t as t h e y a r e i n t h e B i b l e b e l o n gs t o t he t e x t o f t he

a n o n y m o u s B er a z'

t/za a nd no t t o A b b ay’s e x p la n a t i o n . T h e

T o s epho t he n d ea v o r e d t o g i v e t h e i r o w n e x p la n a t i o n b u t di d

no t s uc c ee d : R ef ( A lfa s i ) q uo t i n g t h e B erni /1m o m i t s a l t o

ge t h e r t he s e n t e n c e m e n t i o n e d e x p r ess i n g h i s o p i n i o n t h a t i n

h i s V i e w t h e r e i s n o d i ffe r e n c e i n w h a t o r de r t h e y a r e p la c ed .

46

fi r m our v i e w of t h i s s u bj ec t , t ha t i t r efe r s to t he t i m e

w hen t he i nsc r i pt i o n s w e r e o n t he o u t s i d e of t he c ases ,

w e w i l l q u o t e w h at A bba i h i m se lf sa i d w he n h e hea r d

R . lI ananel i n t he n am e of “ I i abh u t t er a new la w

con ce r n i ng t he c hange o f t he o r d e r of t he fo u r t ex t s .

R . H ananelglfi ) sa id i n t he n am e of R ab h t h a t i f the

o rde r of t he fo u r t ex t s w e r e c ha nged fr om t h at ad opt ed ,

t he tep h i lli m s h o u l d be con s i de r ed not t o be i n com p

li ance w i t h t he r eq u i r em e n t s and o u gh t not t o be w o r n .

A bba i sa i d t h a t h e u n d e r s t ood t h i s t o be o n l y in case

t he c ha nge w as m ade by p lac i ng t he secon d t ex t s fi r s t

and v i ce ve r sa,but t h a t i f t hey w e r e c h anged fr om t he

r i gh t s i d e t o t he l eft i t m ad e no di tf'

er ence .i, e . n o

d i ffe r en ce w as m ad e so l ong as t he fo u r t ex t s co u l d b e

r ead ( w he t her beg i n n i ng a t t he r i gh t o r l eft ) i n t he

o r d er as t h e y a r e i n t he B i b l e . R ab ha . w ho w as un

w i l l i n g t o adm i t t h a t R a b h sa i d w ha t R . H ananel

q u o t ed a nd w ho di d no t r ega r d i t,a s - \bba i di d

,

44) T h i s R . H a na ne l w a s a p r o fess i o n a l w r i t e r o f rep/1 11m l:

a nd t h i s w a s a f t e r Ra b ’s d e a t h . R . H a na ne l, too , i n v e n t e d

t he bo t tom p la te (xfim ‘n) o f t h e rep/z i lli m ,a nd i n t h e n a m e o f

R a b s u pposed i t t o h a v e bee n g i v e n to M oses o n M t,S i n a i .

17

w o r thy any com m en t a r y a t a ll,bega n to oppose i t by

a sholas t i c sa r ca sm aga i n s t A bba i,say i ng : Why do

you not con s i d e r i t i n com p l i ance w i t h t he r eq u i r e

m en t s i f t he c h ange i s m ad e i n p l ac i ng t he second t ex t

fi r s t a n d t‘

i ce t'

e i'

sa ? P r oba b l y beca u s e t he fi r s t t ex t

w h i c h i s out of t he s h ado w ge t s i n t o t he s ha do w ? By

t h i s R aba m ean t t o sa y “ The r e i s n o d i ffe r en ce t o

one r ead i ng t he i n sc r i pt i o n s , as t he y a r e bo t h befo r e

h i s e y es , w h e t h e r t h i s o r t h a t t ex t be fi r s t i n o r de r

but p r obab l y t h e r e w as som e d i ffe r en ce to t he a u t ho r

of t he R em i t/m w ho i n s i s t ed t h a t E x . x i i i . 1 - 10and

D ent . v i . 1 10 s h o u l d be out of t he s h ado w and no t h i ng

S ho u l d be i n t h e i r w ay . ( 45) I f so,t he a u t h o r pr o b

a bly i ns i s t ed t h a t t hc i t ex t s seco n d i n o rd e r m u s t be

e ac h i n i t s s h ad o w,i . e . t he seco nd t ex t on t he r igh t to

be i n t he s h ado w of t he r ig h t and t he seco nd t ex t on

t he l eft i n t he s h ad o w of t he l eft . C onsup re i i t ly y o u r

op i n i o n (0 A bba i ) o n t h i s s u bj ec t h as no fo u nda t i o n 1

But m y Op i n i o n i s t h a t t h i s q u es t i o n o f R ab’

s i s R .

H ananel’

s o w n i n v e n t i o n,a n d t h a t h e

,w i s h i ng t o g i v e

45)'

fha t i s,a t t h e emm i xvhe r e o n e “mndd beg i n M ) r e a d

t he t e x t .

48

i t w e i gh t , u t t e r ed i t i n R ab’

s n am e B ut i n r ea l

i ty i n w ha t e v e r m an ne r t he t ex t a r e p l aced t h e y a r e i n

co nfor m i t y t o t he r eq u i r em e n t s .

I f ne w a ll t he d i ffer en t com m en t a t o r s h ad t ak en

i n t o con s i de r a t i o n a l l w e h a v e , t h e y w o u l d h a v e seen

t h a t t he q u es t i o n r ega r d i ng t he or de r of t he“ fo u r

46) S u c h t h i n gs We r e the n do n e , as c a n be see n f r om t h e

fo l l o w i n g e xa m p l e S om e t i m es t h e A m o r a i to l d a fa l s e h ood

a nd a sc r i bed h i s O p i n i o n to a k n o w n a u t h o r i t y i n o r de r t o

m a ke o t h e r s a dop t h i s O p i n i o n . a s i n E r a /m t 5 1 i t i s p la i n l y

sa i d t h a t s uc h a nd s uc h a n o p i n i o n ha s n o ba s i s but i s a sc r i bed

t o a n a u t h o r i t y t o g i v e i t m o r e va lue .

”Gufe pa r .

498 . D r . je l l i n ek i n h i s w o r k “ T h e C o l l e c t i o n O f R u l e s ”

q uo tes t h e sa m e . I n our j o u r n a l H a - A’

ol, v o l . v i . p . 1 2 t he

fo l lo w i n g i n s t a n c e i s q uo t ed R . l I unO b a r I sa a c q uo t e d t o

R . Na c h m a n a c e r t a i n H a la c/m/z f r o m h i s c o n te m po r a r y , R ,

H u n o , R . Na c h m a n , w ho c o u l d no t be l i e v e R . H u n o t o h a v e

sa i d i t . w i s h ed to se n d a m esse n ge r e x p r ess l y t o t h e la t t e r t o

a s c e r t a i n i t ; w h e r e u po n R . l I nnO ba r I sa a c . fea r i n g t he co n

seq ue n c es . c o n fessed t h a t t h e q uo t a t i o n w a s h i s o w n i n v e n t i o n

b u t t h a t b e a sc r i bed i t to R . lluno to g i v e i t m o r e a ut ho r i t v .

”

B i lbo E lll/I t ‘ d 1 1 1 . S e e o ur w o r k “ To E s t a b l i s h j us t i c e

w h e r e i t i s g i v e n m o r e i n de t a i l . R . I o ha nna n sa i d .ope n l y

t h a t a m a n i s n o t t o be b la m ed fo r a s c r i b i n g h i s O p i n i o n s to a

k n o w n a u t h o r i t y . S e e P h y l . R i t . 37- 59 fo r m o r e i n s t a n c es .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

50

m ean i ng w e r e sepa r a t ed i n t o d i ffe r en t sec t s . B ut i n as

m u c h as t he y w e r e al l pr om i n en t and con s i d e r ed g r ea t

a u t ho r i t i es in J e w i s h R a bb i n i c a l L i t er a t u r e , a nd s i n ce

t he a r r angem en t s of t he t ex t s p r od u ced t he fo u r v a r i

e t i es of'

teph i lli m . w e co ns ide r i t our d u t y t o exp l a i n

a ll t he i r t h eo r i es (49 )

49 ) A fe w i n s t a n c es m a y l i e gi ve n w h i c h s h o w t he m a n n e r

o f d i s p u t i n g a nd c om m e n t i n g a s c a r r i ed o n b y t he a u t h o r i t i es

o f t h e Ta l m ud a nd w h i c h e x h i b i t t h e g r ea t d i ffe r e n c e i n m an

ne r be t w ee n t h os e o f t he d i ff ere n t pe r i ods . as t he Te n a i m , t he

.\ m o ra i m , t h e G a on i m . e t c . T h e Te n a i m ( fi rs t c e n t u r y ) c o m

m e a t ed u po n t h e B i b l e o r so m e o t h e r e s a y o f g r ea t a um o r i t v .

T h e A m o m i m'

(sec o n d t o fi f t h c e n t u r i es) c o nm e nt ed u po n t he

w o r ds o f t h e Te n a i m a nd w e r e b y n o m ea n s s pa r i n go f t h e i r c r i t i c i sm i f i n t h e i r j u d gm e n t w h a t t h e y co m

m e nt ed u po n c ou l d no t s ta n d i t . I f t h e y fo u n d n o s u p po r t

fo r a n op i n i o n e lse w h e r e a nd i t se em ed t o t h em t o h a v e no

log i c a l fo u n da t i o n . t h e y s i m p ly de n o u n c e d i t . T h e la te r R a ba

n i m ,o n t h e c o n t r a r y .

w h o fo l l o w ed t h e G a o ni m ,

‘ n e v e r 3 L

l o w e d t h e m se l v e s to c r i t i c i se . b u t took e v e r y w o r d o f t h e i r

p r edec esso r s a s o f i n d i s p u t a b le a u t h o r i t y a nd c om m e n t e d u po n

e v e r y w o r d a nd e v e r y s t r oke o f t h e pe n i n so m a n y d i ffe r e n t

w a y s t h a t o n e a c h s e n t e n c e t h e r e w e r e h u n d r e ds o f c o m m e n

t a r i es a nd e x p la n a t i o n s .

I n p r oo f o f t h e fo r e go i n g w e c i t e t h e fo l lo w i n g :H T h e r e

i s o n e i n s t a n c e w h e n a Ta n a sa i d p la i n l y “ I c a n n o t gr a s p

t h a t sa y i n g,i . c . i t does no t s t a n d c r i t i c i sm , and R . Aq i ba

r es po n de d :“ I w i ll e x p la i n i t ,

” T h e t e r m s a nd r u les w e r e

I t s h o u ld be r ea d i n a n o t h e r w a y , a nd no t t he

w ay i t i s h e r e (p NSN p xnpn5x) I f i t has n o c o n n ec t i o n

h e r e , r e fe r i t t o som e o t h e r pla c e (D i pns za35rm D R

fir m) , c om m e n t i n g u po n E x ,x x i . 2 4 t o s h o w t h a t t he i n

q u i r e d pe r s o n s h a l l be s a t i s fie d w i t h a m oney c om pe n sa t i o n ,

a nd no t b y i n j u r i n g h i s da m a ge r . T h ese t e r m s w h i c h a r e m e t

w i t h i n t he essa y s o f t h e Te n a i m m ay s e r v e a s p r oo f o f our

s t a t em e n t t h a t w i t h a ll t h e i r r es pec t fo r t he B i b l e t h ey di d no t

s c r u p l e t o s u bj ec t i t t o t h e i r c r i t i c i s m . But f u r t h e r . T h e

A m or a i m i n c om m e n t i n g u po n t he T a na i m di d no t o n t h e i r

pa r t h es i t a t e f r om s u bj ec t i n g t he o p i n i o n s o f t he T a na i m t o

c r i t i c i sm . T h ey fi r s t a s ke d W h e r e did t h e y ge t i t f r om ? ”

I f t h e y fa i l e d i n fi n d i n g a n o r i g i n fo r i t , t h e y t r i ed t o e x p la i n

i t a s bes t t h e y c o u l d , sa y i n g : I t i s om i t t e d a nd m ea n s s o

a nd so l’, o r “ I t does no t m a t t e r m uc h ” , o r s i m p l y , “ E x c l ud e

i t f r om h e r e Fo r e xa m p le, o n e q uo t ed a c e r t a i n [f a/ad m i t

la zl/oJ/ze ”Li - S i na i i n t he n a m e o f R . Jo h a n n a h , a nd i t w a s

“ s p l i t to p i ec es ”

, z'

. a . i t w a s d i r ec t ly op posed b y sa y i n g I t

ha s n e v e r bee n sa i d ”o r I t ha s n o fo u n da t i o n i n c om m o n

s e n s eT h e R a ba n e S e b o r a i (s i x t h c e n t u r y ) a nd t he G a oni m

( s e v e n t h and e i g h t c e n t u r i es) fo l lo w e d i n t h e w a y o f t h e i r p r e

de c e s so r s . t h e Te n a i m a nd t h e A m o r a i m . a nd c om m e n t i n g

U po n t h e m om i t t ed som e se n t e n c es a nd a dded o t h e r s a s c a n

be s h o w n b y t h e e x p r es s i o n “ T h e y d i d n o t s ay t h a t"

e t c .

( S l t Zur C ardi ff/L i e dc r jucdi r /zm T r a di t i on, b y A . H . and

m a n y p la c es i n o ur o w n w o r k) .

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , a s w e h a v e sa i d . t he R a b a ni m ( n i n t h

c e n t u r y a nd la t e r ) d i d n o t a l l o w c r i t i c i sm a t a ll a nd t ook e v e r y

w o r d o f t h e i r p r edec esso r s as o f i n d i s p u t a b l e a u t h o r i t y . T h e y

di d n o t a l l o w a ny do ub t to e n t e r t h e i r h ea ds c o n c e r n i n g t h e i r

a u t h o r i t y e v e n w h e n t h e s t a t em e n t s w e r e u t t e r l y o p pose d t o

r ea so n a nd c om m o n se n se . a nd t h e y a pp l i ed t h em as t h e y

w e r e to p r a c t i c e . T h e G a o n R . S he r i r a , t he fa t h e r o f t he

w e lL kno w n H a i .G a o n. t h e l a tes t o f t h e G a oni m,m a i n t a i n e d

t h a t i f o n e o f t h e G a o n i m “ sa i d i t . i t i s so ”

; bec a use t he sa m e

u a s to l d o f God t o M oses . a l t h o u g h t h i s be no t p r o v e n , and

a n y bod y d i s p u t i n g i t i s a s i f o ppose d t o God ’s W' o r d . D r .

\Ve i s s i n h i s Zur Ger t /acm e der jued. T r ad/H on m a i n t a i n s t h a t

thi s w a s sa i d o n a c c o u n t o f t h e Ka r a i t es w ho w e r e u n w i l l i n g

to g i v e a u t h or i t y to t h e c om m e n t a t o r s ) . I f t h e n s u c h a u t h

o r i t y i s g i v e n to a Ga o n , t h e r e i s n o do ub t t h a t a Ta n a o r a n

Am o r a c o u l d n o t be c r i t i s i z ed a t a ll.

T a k i n g a ll t h i s i n to c o n s i de r a t i o n . i t i s n o w o n d e r t h a t t h e

c h a n ge o f o n e l e t t e r i n a w or d r es u l ted i n t he w r i t i n g o f v o l_

t i m es u po n v o l u m es a nd t h e a dop t i o n o f h u n d r ed s o f r es t r i c

t i o n s .

T h e fol lo w i n g i n s t a n ce w i l l i l l us t ra te t h i s , R . jehuda be i n g o n c e

i n a com pa n y o f fr i e n ds ad v i sed t h e h ouskeepe r n o t to use fo r

b r ead - m a k i n g any o t h e r w a t e r t h a n t h a t kep t i n t h e h ouse, and h e

ex p ressed i t i n s i x w o rds : xSx cahn xi; H E

‘

S ( A

w om a n s h ou ld n o t k n ead w i t h o t h e r t h a n our w a te r) . T he reaso n

w a s t h a t o t h e r w a te r m i g h t h a v e bee n po i so n ed b y s n a kes w h i c h

a r e abu n da n t i n t h ose cou n t r i es . R . jehuda sa i d t h i s i i i i efe r enc e

to t h e d i spu te i n t h e B t'

r a z'

l/m (T e rum a t h V I . ) w h e re o n e m a i n

t a i ned t h a t b read m a de w i t h w a te r kep t i n an u n co v e t ed v esse l ou t

s ide t h e h ouse s h ou l d be bu r n t , e v e n i f i t w e re b re ad o f T c r um a /z,

R . N e h em i a h w a s o f t h e op i n i o n t h a t t h e s n a ke po i so n loses i t s

pow er w h e n b roug h t i n to co n ta c t w i t h f i re, and t h e re fore t h a t t h e

b read m i g h t h e u sed . To a v o i d t h i s R . jehuda ad v i sed t h e use

o f dom es t i c w a t e r w h i c h h e exp ressed. b y t h e w ord UJSC ') our .

R . M a t h n a , w ho l i v ed s i x t y yea r s a f te r R . Jehuda ,h a ppe n ed

to be i n t h e c i t y o f Papu n i and o n a c e i ta i n oc ca s i o n (p rob

ab l y h a v i n g som e obj ec t i o n to t h e use o f t h e w a te r o f t h a t c i t y )lec t u red i n pub l i c abou t us i n g t h e w a te r w h i c h co l l ec t s i n t h e

pub l i c s t ree t s , and he quo ted R . Jehuda’

s o r i g i n a l w ords : A

w om a n s h ou l d n o t k n ea d W i t h o t h e r t h a n our w a te r T h e peo

p l e p rese n t u n de r s tood R . M a thua to h a v e b i o ugh t som e w a te r

a lo n g w i t h h i m because o f h i s us i n g t h e w o rd “our . T h ey t h e re

fo re c am e to h i m t h e n e x t day w i t h v esse l s to ge t som e o f t h i s

w a te r . T h e n R . .\ I a thua ex p la i n ed i n t h e Ta l m ud i c la n guage t h a t

h e m ea n t dom es t i c w a te r , n a m e l y ( R J‘WD RPNn‘l

'

l N ‘ D D NJS )

us i n g t h e w or d (Nn‘ j fi) (d’

ba i tha W i t h an (x) a t t h e e n d,h a v i n g

,

t h e m ea n i n g dom es t i c ”. I n cou rse o f t i m e t h e w 0 i d (f arm /m

w a s i n c o r r ec t l y c o p i ed a nd t h e A l e p h (N ) a t t h e e n d w a s c h a n

ge d t o Va v . w h i c h w o u ld m a k e i t m ea n to r em a i n o v e r

n i g h t ” . T h e R a ba ni m , fi n d i n g t h e w o r d i n t h i s c h a n ged fo r m

(m g c o n c l ud ed t h a t i t r e ta t ed to t h e M a t zo t h (unle a ve t i ed

b r ea d ) u se d a t t h e Pa sso v e r a nd t h e r e fo r e m a i n t a i n ed t h a t t h e

- 54

w a t e r used i n m a k i n g .\ Ia t z o t h m us t r em a i n o v e r n i g h t i n t he

h ous e be fo r e i t i s us ed . Ne i t h e r R . Jehuda no r R . .\la t hua

m e n t i o n ed t h i s , b u t i t w as a s s u m ed s i m p ly bec a use t h es e

w o r ds o f R. Je huda a r e fO und i n t h a t pa r t o f t he T a lm u d w h i c h

t r ea ts o f t h e Pas so v e r fea s t T h e la te r R a ba ni m

w r o te v o l um e a f t e r v o l u m e u po n t h i s s u bj ec t (S e e our j o u r n a l

H a - K ol. Nos . 286, 2 87. 2 90, S t i l l t h e y c o u l d no t g i v e t he

l eas t e x p la n a t i o n o f w hy t h e y r e fe r r ed t h i s t o t h e M a t zo t h , and

t h e y d id n o t c a r e t o i n v es t i ga t e w h er e R . Je huda go t i t f r om

no r ho w M a t zo t h w e r e k n ea ded be fo r e h i s t i m e .

Bu t t h i s i s n o t h i n g c om pa r e d w i t h w h a t has bee n w r i t t e n‘ D

u po n t h e s h o r t s e n t e n c e o f e i g h t w or ds o r i g i n a t i n g f r om Abba y

co n c e r n i n g t h e l'

i'

JD 52 ' J‘

D‘D jN D xfii p 53 ' 73 3

“ H e r e i t m ea n s to t h e r i g h t o f t he r ea de r and

'

t he r e t o t he

r i g h t o f t h e w ea r e r F r om t h es e e i g h t w o r ds h a v e r es u l t e d

c ou n t l ess c o n fl i c t s a m o n g t he c o m m e nt a t om o f t he Ta lm u d

a nd t h e l eg i s l a to r s c o n c e r n i n g t h e d i ffe r e n t s t y l e s o f

D i ffe r e n t a r t i c l e s w e r e w r i t t e n i n t h e n a m e o f t he G ao ni m , a nd

ea c h o n e c la i m ed t h a t R . li a i ( i no o w o r e h i s s t y l e o f hp/ulli m

a c c o r d i n g to h i s e x p la n a t i o n o f t h e e i g h t w o r ds . T h e fi n a l

o u t co m e w a s t h a t i t w a s s t a t ed (R e m a r k o n S l ur/c lam A r m /L)

t h a t a ll t h ese s t y l e s a r e fa v o r e d o f God,b ut i f t h e y a r e a ll

used b y o n e pe r so n h e e n j o y s a g r ea t e r D i v i n e b l ess i n g .

T h i s l a s t s t a t e m e n t w a s m a de bec a use i t w a s des i r a b l e

t h a t n o o n e w ho w o r e a ny s t y l e o f s h o u l d fa i l t o be i n

a c c o r d w i t h t h e r eq u i r e m e n t s , a nd t h a t God ’s w o r d be no t

p r o n ou n c ed o v e r i t i n v a i n . T h i s i n s p i t e o f R . I I a nane l’

s

— 55

R as h i (R . So lom o n I saak i ) , t he c h i ef of com m en t

a tor s , q u o t es h i s com m e n t u po n t he B er a i tha m en

t i oned fr om M enu/tom 34. Wha t w as t h e i r or de r

R as h i : T he o r d e r i n w h i c h t hey a r e be p l aced .

“ The r e i t m ean s a t t he r i gh t of t he r eader .

”R a s h i

When t he r eade r s t and s Oppos i t e t he w ear e r,t hen t he

r i gh t of t he r eade r i s t he l eft of t he w ea r e r . "A nd

t he pe r s o n l oo k i ng a t t hem r o ads t hem i n t h e y w ay

t he y a r e i n t he i n o r d er .

”R as h i : T h at i s

,t he fi r s t

w r i t t en i n t he B i b le i s to he r ead fi r s t and t he l as t

w r i t t e n i s t o be r ead l as t ; and co nseq u e n t l y i n t he

R em i t/t a w he r e i t i s sa i d t h a t t he t w o t ex t s of E x i i dus

m u s t be o n t he r i gh t h and,t he r i gh t of t he r ead e r i s

m ea n t , an d w he r e i t i s sa i d t he con t r a r y,t he left of

t he w e a r e r i s m ean t , w h i c h i s t he r i gh t of t he r e ade r .

F r om t h i s com m e n t of R as h i i n s u c h de t a i l w h i c h i s

co n t r a r y t o h i s c u s t om ,a nd fr om h i s r epea t i ng t he

com m e n t t w i ce i n d i ffe r e n t w o r d s , w e see t h at R as h i

w as i n g r eat d i ffi c u l t y t o exp l a i n i t , an d he w i s hed t o

fi nd s h ine h as i s fo r h i s com m en t ; an d so fi nd i ng t he

expr ess i on , A nd t he r ead e r s h a l l r ead t h em i n o r

fo u r w o r d s eq ua l l y o bsc u r e . 1115105 fi‘fl l

‘

E'WD H

‘sfln D R ! I f

t he fo u r t e x t s a r e C h a n ge d i n o r d e r t h e [pp/"M m a r e c ons ide r t d

no t i n o o m pli a nc e w i t h t h e [r eq u i r e m e n t s ,” Pen a l

,z

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. a . s po i l ed .

56 ~

der,h e exp l a i ned i t to m ean

, i n t he o r de r as t h e y

a r e w r i t t en i n t he B i b l e ”

. B ut w i t h a l l h i s d e t a i l ed

ex i i lana t i ons R a s h i did no t s u ffic i en t l y exp l a i n w h at

r e l a t i o n t h e r e i s be t w ee n t he r eade r w ho sees o n l y t he

o u t s ide of t he teph i ll i m a n d t he t ex t s w h i c h a r e se w ed

up w i t h i n t he tep h i lli m . To Oppose t h i s com m en t a r y

of R as h i,h i s g r and so n

,R . T am ,

r i gh t l y a s k s as fol.

l o w s : lf t he a u t ho r of t he R em i t/ca m ean t t ha t t he

t ex t s s ho u l d he p l a ced i n t he o r de r as t li ev a r e i n t he

B i bl e ,w hy did h e i n t e r r u pt t he se n t en ce w i t h t he

w o rds “r i gh t

”

and “ l eft”

h and, w h e n h e m i gh t

p l a i n l y h a v e sa i d ,

“ The t ex t s E x . x i i i . 1 - 10,1 1 - 16 ;

D en t . vi 44 0,x i . 14- 20 as t h e y a r e o n e aft e r a no t h e r

i n t he B i b l e w h i c h w o u l d be be t t e r t han sa y i n g t he

fi r s t t w o on t he r i gh t and t he la s t t w o o n t he l eft

A nd t h e r efo r e R . Tan i w a s l ed t o expla i n t he

llm '

m'

llm a s fol l o w s : The la s t t w o t ex t s . D ent . v i . 4

1” a nd D ent . 14- 120 s ho u l d be p l a ced i n t he l eft

ha nd eom pa r lm ent , i . e . t he l as t t ex t . D ent . x i . 14- 20,

s ho u l dbe p l aced i n t he t h i r d com pa r t m en t an d D e u t .

v i . 44 1) in t he l a s t one . The s e n t en ce, t he

r eade r > li nll r ead t hem i n t he o r d e r as ( he r a r e i n t he

B i b l e r e fe r s to t he pr ofess i o n a l w r i t e r , i . e . t h a t he

w h e n w r i t i ng t hem s h o u ld r e ad t h em fi r s t i n t he o r d er

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

— 58

w h i ch ac co rdi ng t o R a s h i an d R . T a m E x . x i i i . 1 - 10

w a s t o be p la c ed w a s to be r ese r v ed for D e n t . v i . 4- 10

and t he spa ce i n w h i c h acc o r d i ng t o R abb i Tam E x .

x i i i . l l - l t i w a s t o be p l aced s ho u l d be r es e r v ed for

D en t . x i . 14 - 20. See t he t ab l e o n p . 2 1,second

co l u m n .

' But a ll t hese op i n i on s r egardi ng t h i s s u bj ec t w er e

on l y t h eo r i es and w e r e ne v er b r o u g h t i n t o p r ac t i ce . a s

no n e of t h ese r e v e r e nd m en e v e r w o r e t ep h i lli m or sa w

t hem . a s i s s t a t ed b y R . I saac (ca l l ed H i ) , w ho w a s o ne

of t he f i r s t a u t ho r i t i es of Tosp ha t , i n h i s o w n l a ng u age .

49 and P h y l . R i t .

The S hem nshe R abba,w ho w a n t ed t o app l y t hem

p r a c t i ca l l y , adopt ed R as h i’

s op i n i o n c o nce r n i ng t he

w r i t i ng of t h e t e x t s,but t he c o n t r a r y a s t o t he i r s i t u

a t i on . B o t h a r e w r i t t en i n t he sam e o rd er but exac t l y

r e v e r sed a s p l a c ed i n t he com pa r t m en t s . See t ab le p .

" 1 . t h i rd a nd fo u r t h co l u m ns com pa r ed .

A ll o f t h ese op i n i o ns w o u l d h a v e bee n eon

s i de r ed s i m p l y a s p r i v a t e a nd pe r so n a l o n es and

a s of no gr ea t i m po r t a nce w e r e i t no t for t he fac t

t h a t gr ea t a u t h o r i t y w a s g i v e n t o t he s t a t em en t o f R .

H ananel t h a t i f t he o r d e r o f t ex t s w e r e ch an g ed,t he

t ep /i t'

lli m w e r e co n s ide r ed a s i n v a l i d ( possul) , Th i s

ca u sed eac h on e t o m a i n t a i n s t r ong l y h i s o w n op i n i o n

and t o O ppos e t he Op i n i o n of o t he r s as no t com p l y i ng

w i t h t he r eq u i r em e n t s . H e n ce a r ose t he g r ea t v a r i e t y

of s t y l es an d opi n i ons .

A nd t he r e fo r e t h e r e i s n o t he r w ay fo r a m an t o

do , w ho w i s h es t o pc r l’

o r m t he ce r em on y of t he tep /t i l

lt'

m and be s u r e h e i s r i gh t,t h an to w ea r t

‘

onr di fler ent

s t y l e s . A nd i f h e w i s h es t o be ce r t a i n a s t o t he fu r t h e r

pos i t i o n ol‘

t he t ex t s,w he t h e r v e r t i ca l o r ho r i z o n t a l

et c . h e w o u l d h a v e t o w ea r m ne di tl'

e rent s t vles

CH A PTE R VI I .

T h e Abo l i t i o n o f t h e P r a c t i c e o f w ea r i n g Tap/“111m i n t he

da y s o f t h e la t e r A m o r a i m ; t h e R e n e w a l o f t h e C us t om i n t h e

d a y s o f t he G a o ni m a nd t h r o ug h o u t t h e w h o l e pe r i od d u r i n g

w h i c h t h e n u m be r o f t h e K e r a i t e s bega n t o g r o w : t h e D i s p u te

a b o u t t h e s t y l e w h i c h R . lla i G a o n u sed to w ea r : t h e i r Abo l i

t i o n i n t h e l a s t c e n t u r i es o f t h e “ F i f t h T h o usa n d a c c o r d i n g

to t h e Je w i s h C a l e n da r : a nd t h e i r be i n g r e v i v e d b y S m ag

o f Co u c y ) a nd t he Ca us e o f t h i s , C h r i s t i a n i t y a nd t h e

Te p h i l l i m . t he t w o S h i n s .

I t w e s t udv ca r efu l l y t he h i s to r v ol'

tep /u‘

lli m . w e

s ha l l fi nd an exp l a n a t i on of t he l'

a c t t h a t t h e r r ece i v ed

s o m u c h a t t e n t i on fr om t he A m o r a i m o i'

t he m i dd l e of

t he i r pe r i od D‘xx

‘nxn Dav i e s ?! a nd w hv so m a n y l a w s

w e r e m a de ( i n t he d a v s o f R .loseph A bba i a nd R abha )

w h i c h w e r e a l w a y s opposed t o t he pr a c t i ce . and a l so

w hv w e find no m en t i on o l'

t he m i n t he da v s o t'

t he l a t e r

. \m or a i m .

61

I n p r ocess of t i m e,w h e n t he J e w i s h C h r i s t i an s

began to ass i m i l a t e w i t h t he ne w con v e r t s t o C h r i s t i an

i ty fr om o t he r na t i on s an d t he n u m be r of C h r i s t i an s

becam e g r eat e r t h an t h at of t he J e w s and t h e r e ar ose

a t o t a l sepa r at i o n be t w ee n t hem, t hen t he tep h i lli m

w er e abo l i s h ed am ong t he J e w s , as i t'

t her e i s no ca u se .

t he r e i s n o effec t . I n t he m ea n t i m e am ong o t h e r na t

i o n s t he c u s t om of w ear i ng t al i sm an s bega n t o g r o w

l ess l i t t l e b y l i t t l e . C h r i s t i an i t y,w h i c h t h en bega n t o

sp r ead v e r y r ap i d l y . di d a g r ea t d ea l t o w a r d s a bo l i s h

i ng t he u se of t a l i sm an s . So di d t he M os l em r e l i g i on

ti v e cen t u r i es a lt e r t he b i r t h of C h r i s t i a n i t y . Ta k i ng

a l l t hese t h i ngs i n t o co n s i d e r a t i on , w e n eed - not w onder

w hy w e fi nd n o t r ace of t al i sm an s i n t he d a y s of t he

l a t es t A tnor a i m and t he R abani m S ebor a i .

T nev w o u l d h a v e becom e d i s u sed and fo r go t t en a t.

t oge t h e r w e r e i t not for t he r i s e of a ne w sec t ca l l ed

t he Ka r a i m ( K e r a i t es) o r A noni m . i n t he d a y s

R ab J ehudaj G ao n , (774 A . D . ) Th i s sec t t u r ned t he i r

bac k s u po n t he com m e n t a t o r s ol'

t he B i b l e and den i ed

t h e i r a u t ho r i t y , l a u gh i ng an d j ee r i ng a t t hem . T hey

t oo k as a guide i n r e l i g i o u s m a t t e r s t he Sam a r i t a n

an d t he Zadt t k i er Pen t a t e u c h and c la i m ed t he i r o w n

com m e n t a r i es as t he o n l y r i gh t o nes a s,lb r i ns t ance ,

— 62

t he y exp la i ned m ath15 D h D B’i .Dm t

'

pt (and t hou sha lt

fas t en t h em,and p l ace t hem fo r a S i gn , e t c

.

) t o m ean

t ha t t h e y s ho u l d a l w a y s be bo r n e i n m i nd ,i n t he sense

of“ S e t tne a s a sea l u pon t h i n e hea r t

”

. (C ant . 8

The b i r t h of t h i s sec t a tl'

or ded a m o t i v e t o t he G aoni tn

to r e v i v e a gr ea t n u m be r o t'

o bsc le t c r u l es and l a w s ,

am o ng w h i c h w e r e t hose conce r ntng t he t ep h i lli m ,i n

r ega r d t o w h i c h t he y m ade ne w la w s bes i des . (50)

50) I n o ur P h y l . R i t . w e h a v e c a l l ed a t te n t i o n to a q ues t

i o n a s k e d b y R . je huda i G a o n , w h e t h e r a b us i n es s m a n w ho

i s i n t h e h a b i t o f s t u d y i n g e v e r y da y a fe w c h a p t e r s o f t he

.\ li s hna s h o u l d w ea r t h e lap/"Yum d u r i n g t he t i m e o f p r a y e r

a nd r ea d i n g t h e S i zem a . o r w h e t h e r o n l y p r om i n e n t m e n s h o u l d

W e a r t h e m a nd o r d i n a r y m e n n o t,i n o rd e r n o t t o a p pea r

h a u g h ty a m o n g t h e r es t o f t h e peo p l e ? F r om t he a n s w e r o f

R . I l i lla i oao n i t a ppea r s t h a t t h e p u b l i c w ea r i n g o f fep/u'

lz i m

w a s a l l o w ed o nlv to t h e c h i e f R a bb i s , a nd fo r t h em a c e r t a i n

h e i g h t . t h a t o f t h r ee fi n ge rs w a s p resc r i bed . O t h e r Ra bb i s

a nd t h e i r d i sc i p l es w e r e a l l o w ed o n i y t o w ea r t h em t h e h e i g h t

o f o n e a nd o n e - h a l f fi n ge r s a nd um /c'r f/w t h a t

t h e y m i g h t n o t be see n pub li c lv a nd a ppea r i n d e pe n d e n t i n

t he p r ese n c e o f t h e i r c h i e fs , w ea r i n g t h e s a m e a s t h e la t t e r . I n

t he “ A n s w e r s o f t h e G a o n i m”

. p u b l i s h e d i n L y c ke , i t i s t o be

fou n d t h a t d i sc i p l es w e r e o n l y a l l o w ed t o w ea r t ep/u'

l/i m t h e

h e i g h t o f o n e fi n ge r . ( I n Be t h Jose f . O r uc h C h a i m 2 7. t he

63

fo r ego i n g i s a sc r i bed t o R . I i a i G ao n,b u t i n di tTe r e nt w o r ds . )

R . S h i r i r a ( j a o n w a s o n c e a sk ed t h e fo l lo w i n g q ues t i o n “ Why

do no t t h e m os t peo p l e o be y 0575773 ) t h em ( t h e

A n d a l s o h e w a s a sk ed . i f s c h o l a r s a r e a l lo w ed to w ea r fep/u'

l/i m

w h a t w a s h i s o w n h a b i t a nd t h a t o f h i s s c h oo l i n r ega r d t o

t h i s . I n a n s w e r t o t h e se q ues t i o n s h e sa i d n o t h i n g pos i t i v e

b u t s pok e i n s uc h a w a y t h a t h i s w o r ds c o u l d be u n de r s tood

i n bo t h a pos i t i v e a nd n e ga t i v e se n s e . I n S /m/ol/z a nd T e

s/m/mI /z Ga one p r i n te d i n t h e j o u r n a l [fol/e T a r a /z , V o l .

I V . a nd i n Zm ’

11 . s . w . ,R . S he r i i a

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s o w n

w o rds a re c i ted a s fo l l o w s : “ T h e com m a n dm e n t s (m ym a re o f

t w o k i n ds som e o f t h em a r e ob l i ga to r y ,and i f t h e y a re n o t pe r

for m ed , i t i s co n s i de red a s i n ; o t h e r s a r e n o t obl i ga to ry and t h e

m a t te r i s l e f t to t h e pe r for m e r , w ho i f h e pe r fo r m s t h em rec e i v es

a h ea v e n l y r e w a rd (1 3W) . Fo r i n s ta n c e , o n e w ho i s i n t h e h ab i t

o f g i v i n g a l m s ge t s a c om pe n sa t i o n fo r dontg i t , b t t t i t i s n o t

a s rn i f h e does n o t do i t , a s i t i s i f h e do e s n o t pe r to t m T ap/z z'

la /z

( p r a ye r ) , T s i /s i l/z ( f r i n ges) , and S uk ko t h ( t h e ce rem o n y o f du e l

l i n g i n a s um m e r bo o t hl , u heu h e l oses a re w a rd i n h ea v e n .

N o w i f h e cou n t s T ap/1 1711 , T rud i /1,

and,S ukkot/1 a m o n g t h ose

co n s i de r ed a s a s i n i f n o t pe r fo r m ed,and does n o t m e n t i o n lap/217

I zm , w e m a y j udge t h a t t h e y di d n o t c a r e m u c h fo r i t . A n d t h i s

ag rees w i t h ha t h e ha s sa i d i t i h i s a n s w e r l ega i di ng lep/u'

l/i m

( S ee l’hvl. lx

‘

i t . 74 , ans w e r 5) w h e n h e does n o t p l a i n ly dec l a r e

t h a t t he U s e o f lap/z i /li m i s ob l i ga to r y . T h e fO t ego i ng m ay se r v e

to s h o w t h a t t h e G aoni m di d n o t m u c h c a re to i n t roduce t h e lap/1 17

64

B i t t e v e n t h ese l a w s r em a i ned t h eo r e t i ca l ni er elv

and w e r e ne v e r put i n t o pr a c t i ce , as t he y Irv no m ean s

pr esc r i bed t hem fo r t he com m o n peop l e , and e v e n fo r

t h e i r o w n u se t he y m ad e m a n y spec i a l l a w s and r egu

lut i on s .

Th e tep h i lli m a re m en t i oned for the fi r s t t i m e b y

t he G aoni ni i n t he polem i c z i l an s w e r s ( I eshubot/a) 01

R . J eli udi G a on . S 1: i bbole L olceth, Sec t i o n l -

nyan

s h i'

lli m : H a la cho th Pesuqot li ; and see our P h y l .

R i t. p . B ut e v en i n the w r i t i n gs of t he G anni in

t hev a r e v e r r se ldom m en t i o n ed . I n t he co u r s e ofo u e

h u nd r ed ti tty y ea r s fr om t he d a v s o f R . J e h u d i G aon

t o t he da v s of R . N a t i 'ana i and h i s son H li i t ll t hev a r e

no t m e n t i on ed a t a l l an d t h e n t h e r a r e not m en t i on ed

fo r nine t v v oa r s u n t i l t he d ay s of R . S her i r a an d H a i

( i n: a m o n g t he peop l e. as w e h a v e se v e ra l t i m es r em a r ked i n our

T h y l . R i t .

.\ nd u po n R ab 's w o rds,

“ A bod i ly c u rsed Je w i s a m an

w ho does n o t w ea r lap/1 1711 311"

(N87 S fl DPWP.lD lJfi L’U-“ID

p , E h t h e G ao n com m e n t ed t h a t a pe rso n o n ly i s m ea n t w ho

t i i lfnllv di s o li ey s and laug h s a t t h em . R . Ja cob T a m i n h i s o w n

n a m e ex p l a i n ed i t i n t h e s a m e se n se and added t h a t i t i s o n l y i n

c as e h e pla vs neglt c t fullv w i t h t h e fi l l e t s . I t i s c u r i ou s w hy Ta n i

di d n o t g i v e t h i s ex p l a n a t i o n i n t he n a m e o f t h e G ao n .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

m a i n t a i ned t ha t acco r d i ng t o I t . H a i G a o n t he t w o

t ex t s b e n t . x i . 14 - 20and E x . x i i i . 1 1 - 16 ( w h i c h beg i n

w i t h t he w o rds m m and a r e t he r efo r e ca l l ed m 'tn,

( lI a va i o t h) m u s t be nea r ea ch o t h er , exp r essed b y t he

w o r d s,

” The H ava i o t h t Oge t li er”

(w ant? nr m ) . I t i s

s t a t ed by“ Sm ug ”

t h a t R . S he r i r a,t he fa t h e r of R .

H a i G JI O I I,w a s of t he sam e op i n i on in r ega r d t o t he

t w o I la va i o t h . R . Joseph K a r o i n h i s K esep h M i s/m a

c i t es a l e t t e r w r i t t en b y .\ I a i ni oni des i n w h i c h h e

c la i m s t h a t R . H a i G ao n sa i d som e t h i n g i n con s i s t en t

w i t h w h a t bo t h R abad and T ospha t b c l a i m , but not

S e e o ur P h y l . R i t . i n w h i c h w e h a v e p r o v e n t h a t

t h i s l e t t e r w a s no t w r i t t e n b y M a i m o n i des , b ut o n ly as

c r i bed to h i m (qtmg) and R . I o se ph K a r o h i m se l f i s do ub t

f u l a s to t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h e l e t t e r . I n t he sa m e p la c e

w e h a v e r e m a r k ed u po n t h e a u t h o rs o f t h e T os pha t h

a nd a ll o t ho r s w ho pa r t i c i pa t e d i n t h i s d i s p u t e t h a t t h e y

n e v e r c i t e fa r/5 : b u t o n l y s a y“ so a nd so s a y s t h i s o r

t h a t ”. T h e r e w e m a i n t a i n t h a t R . A lfa s i w r o t e h i s w o r k

o n l y o n a c c o u n t o f t h e K e ra i m w ho be ga n to gr o w i n

h i s da y s ( pa r . 80 ) a nd w e no w add to t h a t i f i t w e r e no t

fo r t h e K e r a i ni , e v e n t h a t l i t t l e a bo u t t h e t ep/r i ll) ” w o u l d

n o t h a v e bee m m e n t i o n ed by A lfas i . s i n c e t h e peo p l e i n

h i s d a ys d id n o t w ea r t h e m ,

on e of t h em co u l d sa y pos i t i v e l y ,“These a r e t he tep h i li m

w o r n b y R . H a i G aon ,as H i l l e l sa i d ,

“These a r e t he

teph i lli m w o r n b y m y m o t h e r’

s fa t he r R . M enahe i i i

A z a r i e fr om Pa n u i n h i s " A n s w e r s, pa r . 107, ass u m ed

t h a t R . li a i,t he m os t p r om i ne n t of t he G ann i m ,

u sed

t o w ea r fo u r d i ffe r e n t s t y l e s o f teph i lli m ,a nd t he r efo r e

h e t h i n k s all t he abo v e s t y l e s , c l a i m ed t o h a v e bee n

fo u n d i n R . H a i G ao n’

s tep h i lli m ,do not con t r ad i c t

on e an o t h e r , but t h a t each o n e c l a i m i ng a d i ffe r e n t

s t y l e sa w a d i ffe r e n t o ne ofR . H a i’

s tep h i lli m .

T he sam e a u t ho r fur t h e r s t a t es t h at h e saw an an

c i en t set of tep h i ll i m i n w h i ch t he o r d e r of the t ex t s

w a s a t t he r i gh t of t he w ea r e r,but t h i s w as o n l y a

conj e ct u r e , a nd h e co u l d not sa y pos i t i v e l y w he t he r , R .

H a i G aon r ea l l y w e r e fo u r s t y l es o r t ha t t he a nc i en t

set w as t h at of R . lla i .

We t h u s see t h a t aft e r t he t i m e oft h e Gaoni m t h a t

tep h i lli m ha d fa l l e n i n t o d i s u se and t h a t t o s u c h a n ex“

t en t t h a t no t on e pa i r co u l d be fo u n d t h at m i gh t se r v e

as an ex am p l e of t he k i n d w o r n i n anc i en t t i m es . . t e

cor di ngly as n o r easo n co u l d be g i v en w h r t he o r de r

of t he t ex t s s h o u l d be o n e w av o r ano t he r , o r w h i ch

opi n i o n i s t o be p r efe r r ed , and as i t a l l d epended u pon

t he exp l a n a t i o n of t he Rem i t/m . 31 1 3 ar e . t hev co u l d

fi n d n o h i gh e r ant li o r i t v t ha n R lla i ( i nfi l l : a nd so

68

t he y t r i ed t o fi nd out t he s t y l e h e u sed to w ea r .

A s w e h a v e pr o v e n i n o u r P h y l . R i t ., ne i t he r

R as h i no r T ospha t h w o r e teph i lli m ,as i s adm i t t ed b y

t he a u t ho r i t i es of'

l‘

ospha t h t hem se l v es .

One pr om i ne n t pe r so n , R . J acob of K urb i l b y

n am e,w hom t he a u t ho r of T O Spha t h ca l l ed t he

“ H ol y

Ma n,

”

c l a i m ed t o h a v e com m u n i ca t ed w i t h H ea v en

(a‘ne'n 1D m utant none ) r ega r d i ng t he o r de r of t he

t ex t s i n t he com pa r t m en t s a n d t he ob l i g a t i o n of w ea r

i ng t h em : but t he l‘

C S pO ll S C to h i s com m u n i ca t i on w a s

so obsc u r e (52 ) t h a t no t h i ng co u l d h e m ad e of i t t o put

i n p r ac t i ce .

52 ) S e e o ur P h y l . R i t . , t he c h a p t e r e n t i t l e d “

Q ues .

t i o n s a nd A n s w e r s fo r m H ea v e n ” w h e r e w e c i t e t h a t t o

t h e f i r s t q ues t i o n t he a n s w e r w a s r ec e i v e d t h a t G od H i m

s e l f sa y s t h a t t he t e x t s D e u t . x i . 14- 20 a nd E x , x i i i .

t l — lo m u s t be p l a c ed i i i t h e m i dd le : a nd t h a t H i s s u i t e

(x ‘bog ) a r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e t e x ts n a m e d m us t b e

i n t h e i r r e gu'

a r B i b l i c a l O r de r . N o w t h e o r de r o f t e x t s

u s e d a t p r ese n t i s j us t t h e c o n t r a r y : a nd t h u s c o n t r a r y

t o t h e W i ll o f Hea v e n ! .\nd to t h e sec o n d q u es t i o n h e

r ec e i v ed i n a n s w e r to c e r t a i n B i b l i c a l q uo t a t i o n s w h i c h a r e

i n e x p l i c a b l e . I t w a s o n l y i n r ega r d to t he c e r e m o n y o f

69

A nd t h u s t he teph i lli m w o r e for go t t en i i i t he l as t

ce n t u r i es of t he Fi ft h T ho u sa nd of t he J e w i s h Ca l

e nd e r (900- 1200 R . ) t i l l t he a ppea r a n ce of R .

Mos h e m i C ot i cy, t he a u t h o r of“ S m ag w ho d e v o t ed

h i m se l f t o r e v i v i ng t he i r u s e . m o v ed b y t he m o t i v e

w h i c h w e sha ll no w e xp l a i n .

C h r i s t i a n i t y,w h i c h i i i i t s ea r l y age as w e h a v e

seen pr om pt ed m a n y r efo r m s i n t he tep h i lli m ,i n t he

m i dd l e age w he n i t w as r a p i d l y spr ead i ng a l l o v e r

E u r ope a l so did a g r ea t d ea l t o w a r d t he sp r ead and

adopt i o n of tep h i lli m i i i t he d a y s of R . M oses of Co u c y

Th i s F r e n c h m an w ho w a s w i t h h i s w ho l e h ea r t and

so u l d e v o t ed t o t he J e w i s h fa i t h , sa w h i s co - r e l i g i on i s t s

i n Spa i n and Po r t u ga l beg i n t o ass i m i l a t e m o r e an d

m o r e w i t h t he go v e r n i ng n a t i o n s i i i t hose co u n t r i es ,

T s i ls i t/z t h a t h e go t a d i s t i nc t a n s w e r :“ L e t t h e m do w h a t

t h e y a re i i i t he h a b i t o f do i n g , bec a use i t i s be t t e r to do

i t i n v o l u n t a r i l y t h a n w i l f u l l y p m“? 3 13e Sxaw fi 1n

‘7n3n)

I‘V IO i ‘ fl ‘ 5x1 321313 ) I n t h e sa m e p l a c e w e h a v e s t a t e d

t h a t t he t h i r d pa r t o f t he se v e n t y q ues t i o n s c o n c e r n e d t h e

Tephi lli m and T s i /s z t /z , Fr om a ll t h i s w e c a n s ee ho w

m uc h t he s c h o l a r s o f t h a t t i m e t ro u b l ed t h e m s e l v es a bo u t

t he ( S e e 1 27

70

ad opt i ng t he i r c u s t om s and u sages . The J e w s t he n

r esem b l ed C h r i s t i an s ex t e r n a l l y a s t h e r e r em a i ned

not h i ng of t he i r pec u l i a r c u s t om s b t i t c i r cut i i c i s i on ,

t he c u s t om of w ea r i ng Tep h i lli m .

,T s i ts i t/i

,e i gh t

s t r i ng s a t eac h end of a sq u a r e r obe,an d .\ I ez uz o t h .

t he B i b l i ca l t ex t S l i em a ( D ent . v i . 4) o n t he doo r , w e r e

no t t h en obse r v ed b y t he J e w s . C h r i s t i a n s w e r e di

t i ngui shcd b v w ea r i ng t he c r oss w i t h w h i c h t he J e w s ,

no t con s i de r i ng i t a s i do l - w o r s h i p ( D‘h‘ Sx na tar ) . u sed

som e w ha t t o dea l a n d o r nam en t and g i v e t o t h e i r J e w i s h

and C h r i s t i a n fr i end s , t he y t h em se l v es be i ng d i s t i ng u

i shed b y n o ex t e r n a l m a r k . U pon see i ng t h i s a fea r

c r e pt i n t o t he h ea r t of M oses of Conc y t h a t-

i a t he

co u r s e of t i m e t he J e w s w o u l d becom e w li ollv ass i m i

l a t ed w i t h t he C h r i s t i ans and t o p r e v en t t h i s h e de v

i sed t he fol l o w i ng , he be i ng t he fi r s t a nd t he l as t t o

exp la i n i t t h u s B y t w o w i t nes s es s ha l l a fac t be es t

a bli shed (a r t ntpt m ay a t.

“ ‘

a‘ hr i and t h e r efo r e e v e r y

J e w m u s t h a v e t h ese w i t tnc ssc s t o s h o w t h a t be i s a

J e w . ( S ui ng pa r . 3 B t t t t he r e a r e un l v t h r ee

t h i ngs w h i c h c an w i t ness t o t he pe r'

sm i obevi ng t h em

t h a t h e i s a t r ue .lo w z n a m e l y . t he S a bba t h . Tep h i lli m

and C i r c u m c i s i on The B i b l e i n S pea k i nfr of t hese

t ln c c u se s t he exp r ess i o n‘and t hev s h a l l be a s i g n

,a

a

— 71

w i t n ess . to y o u’

. T h e r efo r e o n t he Sabba t h - day t h e r e

i s no n eed of w ea r i ng T ep h i lli m ,a s t he r e a r e t w o w i t

nesses w i t ho u t t h em ( Sabba t h and c i r c u m c i s i o n ) , but

o n w ee k da y s e v e r y J e w m u s t w ea r t h a t t h e y

t oge t h e r w i t h c i r c u m c i s i o n s h o u l d be t w o w i t nesses

B ut k no w i ng t h a t n o o n e w o u l d heed h i m a nd w ea r

tep h i lli m t he w ho l e day, R . M oses of Co nc y sa t i s fied

h i m se lf w i t h m a k i ng t h em ob l i ga t o r y o n l y d u r i ng t he

m o r n i ng h o u r of p r a y e r w h en t h e y s ho u l d r em i nd t he

w ea r e r t h a t h e i s a J e w an d t h a t h e h as m a n y d u t i es

to pe r fo r m . I n t h i s w ay R . Moses of Co u c y hoped t o

p r e v e n t h i s fe l l o w- r e l i g i on i s t s fr om ass i m i l a t i on .

H i s l ong d i sse r t a t i o n s t a t es t h a t r a t h e r t he i m

pi o u s (53) t han t he p i o u s S ho u l d w ea r tep h i lli m ,w h i c h

i s cop i ed fr om S m ag , an d t h a t h e o r de r ed a r ed s t r i ng

to be w o r n i n s t ead of tep h i lli m i n case t he go v e r nm en t

53)“ G od w o u l d r a t h e r h a v e t h e cu r r ed t h a n t h e p i o us

t o w ea r t i p/z i llz'

m : a nd t h e t ep/1 1m m We r e p r i n c i pa l l y c o m .

m e n d ed fo r t h e c u r s e d o n es a s a r e m i n de r t o t h e m "

rS m ag'

s

o w n w r ods ) . S e e P h y l . R i t . p p . 84, 85, a nd a l s o w h a t R.

jose p h o f Co log n e sa i d , p . 78 .

72

s ho u ld p r o h i b i t t he l a t t e r and h e w i o t e a l so “ I n

t he y ea r 4995 A . t h e r e w a s an occ u r r en ce fr om

h ea v e n p nz o) as a p r oof. and i n t he n ex t

y ea r , 49945, I w en t t o Spa i n t o pr eac h t o t h em,and

54) I n h i s p r e fa c e t o t h e book M uni t w ot /z m en

t i oned a bo v e tp . I n our P h y l . R i t . p ,1 35 w e

c i t e h i s o w n w o r ds . a nd'

t h e r e h e sa v s t h a t a l r ea d y i n

Po r t u ga l i t w a s fo r b i dde n t o w ea r but h e does

n o t g i v e e xa c t l y t h e t i m e .

i

I n t h e h i s t o r i es o f t h e je w s t h e r e

is n o t ra c e o f t h i s . .\ nd y e t t h i s i s no t r e m a r ka b l e , as so

m a n y t h i n gs w h i c h h a p pe n e d a r e om i t t e d f r om Je w i s h h i s

t o r i es ,a s i s j u s t l y sa i d by R . Ga m a l i e l . t h a t i f w e w e r e

t o a t te m p t to e n um e r a t e a ll t he s u f fe r i n gs o f t he Je w s w e

s h o u l d n o t be a b le t o do i t , e v e n i f w e de v o t ed t o i t a ll

ou r l i fe t i m e . E v e n R . M oses o f Cou c y di d no t n o t e di

r e c t ly a ll t h e s u f fe r i n gs o f h i r o w n t i m e . but c a l l e d t h em“ O c c nr e nc e s f r om h ea v e n ” ,

“ ea r t h q u a kes e t c . A s t h e r e

i s n o m e n t i o n i n h i s to r y o f a ny ea r t h q ua k e o n a ny a s t r o

no m i c a l oc c u r r e n c e ( D ' j m j n ni h ‘m ) i n t he v a r s 4995— 6

A . .\ i . a l t h o u g h i n 4990 t h e r e w a s a gr ea t f l ood a t V i r i z a

a nd a n ea r t h q ua k e i n Bo h e m i a h e p r o ba blv m ea n t b y3“ oc c u r r e n c es f r om h ea v e n ’ t h e ed i c t s o f Po pe G r e go r y

a nd fo r fea r o f t h e go v e r n m e n t so des i g n a t ed t h em O f

t h es e s u f fe r i n gs o f t h e peo p l e R . .\ Io s e s o f Co u c y t ook

a d v a n t a ge t o m a k e t h e m a do p t t h e xl/z t m o/lz m e n t i o n ed .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

74

t hen,i n t he da y s of Pope G r ego r y , w hen t he ad opt i on

of C h r i s t i an i t y by t he .l e w s i nc r eased and pe r sec u t i on s

began,R . M oses of C oncy t oo k ad v a n t age of t h i s to

com pe l t h em t o adopt t he Tep h i lli m ,t he M ez uz oth .

and t he Ts i ts i th for t h em se l v e s an d t h e i r c h i l d r en,a nd

i n t h i s w ay h e hoped to pr e v e n t t h em fr om ass i m i l a

t i o n .

The de v o t i o n and l abo r of R . M oses of Co u e y bo r e

m a ny and good fr u i t s , al t ho u gh no t a l l t he J e w s t h e n

adopt ed t he t h r ee ce r em o n i es , tep h i lli m ,m az uz a h

,and

( s i t s i tb , as he h i m se l f sa y s i t w as o n l y t ho u s a nd s, (56)

and e v e n t h i s w a s an exagge r a t i on , as ca n be s ee n

56 ) I t i s c u r i o u s t h a t t he a u t h o r o f O r Zer ua , w ho l i v e d

a t t he sa m e t i m e o r a fe w y a r rs a f t e r R . M oses o f Co u c y ,

c o n t r a r y t o t h e la t te r , a l l o w ed o n l y t he m os t p rom i n e n t

t o w ea r a nd n o t t h e cu r s ed o n es . I n t he d a y s o f

R . A s h e r ( Ros h ) i t s ee m s t h a t t h e c u s t om w a s som e w h a t

m o r e w i de l y a dop t ed , a s m a y be j ud ged f r om h i s w o r d s

“a nd w hy a fa g o f t h e peop l e pa y n o a t t e n t i o n to i t e t c .

T h i s w ou l d s eem to i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e m os t o f t h e peop l e

w o r e t h e m . But w e c a n n o t c o n s i de r t h i s a bso l u t e p r oo f,

no r c a n w e te l l e x a c t l y ho w m an y a r e t o be u n d e rs t ood

b v t h e w or d “ fe w”

, no r o f w h a t c la s s t h e y w e r e , a s h e

75

fr om t he fac t t h a t t w o h u n d r ed y ear s aft e r w a r d s, i n

t he d a y s o l R . Joseph of Co l og n e,t ep h i lli m w er e but

v e r y s l i gh t l y w o r n : and R . J oseph says p l a i n l y : T he

‘ com m and’

(new ) of tep h i lli m i s do u b t fu l,and G od ’s

n am e p r o no u n ced o v e r t h em m ay he cons i der sd as pr o

nounced i n v a i n ”

(n5n35n3 1 3y’

,fr om w h i c h i t m ay be

con c lud ed t h a t R . J oseph h i m self did no t w ea r t h em ;

and i n t he sam e p l a ce . i n an sw e r to one w ho q u es

t i oned hi m on t h i s s u bj ec t . h e s ays t h a t h e agr ees

w i t h t he q u es t i on e r ( i . e . t ha t tep h i lli m need no t

i n v a r i ab l y be w o r n ) The a u t ho r of S /i i bbole

p r oba b l y d id no t s pea k o f t h e c om m o n peop l e . R . As h e r 's

s o u , R . Ja c ob , t h e a u t h o r o f t h e “ T u r i m did a g r ea t

dea l t o w a r d s p r ea d i n g t h e a nd m a de t h e m ob l i

ga t o r y u po n e v e r y o n e ; a f t e r h i m“i n t h e da y s o f R . Jo

s e ph K a r o i t a p pea r s t o h a v e bee n v e r y e x t e n s i v e l y a do p t e d

by t he c0 tn tno n peop l e,

w ho m a de t h e m a c c o r d i n g to

Ra s h i ’s s t y l e,p l a c i n g t h e t e x ts f r o m t h e r i g h t o f t h e r a m /( r

.

But h e o r de r ed t h a t t h e s t y l e o f R . T a m be a l so w o r n

a t t he sa m e t i m e . t h a t t h e r e be n o t t he s l i g h tes t dou b t

t h a t G od ’s n a m e w e r e no t p r o n o u n c ed i n v a i n 01 3 1 3 t ’c

’n

n5t3 35) ‘

57) T h e c r i gi na l w o r ds o f t h e q u es t i o n e r a r e n o t q uo t ed

i n t he t e x t (C la u se b u t i t see n s t h a t t w o q u es t i o n s

— 76

L ekhet/t sa y s t ha t t he y a r e t o be w o r n o n l y o n cer t a i n

d a y s,fr om w h i c h w e m ay conclude t ha t t h e y w e r e not

t hen u sed b y t he peo p l e co mm on l y . R . J acob We i ],

w ho l i v ed m u c h l a t e r t ha n t he fo r ego i ng,expre ssed

h i s di ssa t i .~fa c t i on w i t h t he y o u ng fo l k s , m a r r i ed o r

u nm a r r i ed,w ho w e r e i n t he h ab i t of w ea r i ng tep h i lli m .

F r om a ll t h ese fa c t s w e C an see t h a t t he r e w e r e

n u m e r o u s peop l e w ho di d no t w ea r teph i lli m u n t i l t he

da y s of J oS eph Ka r o . B ut s t i l l w e ca n t r u l y sa y t h a t ,

had i t no t been fo r R . .\I oses of C oucv,t h e r e w o u l d be

n o t r a ce of t he c u s t om i n our d a y s ; a s i t w a s t he pa i n

t a k e n b y t h a t m an and t he v a r i o u s ca l am i t i es w h i c h

befe l l t he J e w s i n t he t w o c e n t u r i es w h i c h fo l l o w ed h i m

c a u sed t hem l i t t le b y l i t t l e t o a dop t t he tep h i lli m w he r e

t hev l i v ed,a nd i n co u r se o f t i m e t he n u m be r of t hos e

w e r e a s k ed a t t h e sa m e t i m e : a ) I f a m a n ou g h t to di e

r a t h : r t h a n r e f use t o pe r fo r m t h e c o m m a n ds e t c . ,

t nt l b ) i f i t i s o b li ga t o r v t o w ea r {cf /1 1711311 . T h i s w o u l d

s c e n t to s h o w t h a t t h e q ues t i o n s w e r e r e la t e d i n t h e

m i n d o f t h e q ues t i o n e r . R . Jose p h o f Co lo g n e sa i d :“ I t

i s p ro li a h lv a s y o u s a v ,S H

a s a b ove a nd t l. R i t

58) S t” i n h i s w o r k . l

'

he C us tom s o f H a r d"

i t t he e nd. a nd P h y l . R i t . i n m a n y p l a c es .

77

w ho w o r e t hem i n c r eas ed t o suc h a n ex t e n t t h a t R .

J oseph K a r o co u l d j us t l y say, a nd t he peop l e (a5m

m m ) w ea r the s t y l e of R a s h i

B ut e v e n t he tep h i lli m of R . Moses of Co u c y uh

d e r w ent a ce r t a i n c h ange,a l t ho u gh no t a n e n t i r e

c h ange ; a nd t he y d i ffe r e d i n fo r m fr om t he tep h i lli m

w o r n i n an c i e n t t i m es , as t h e r e w a s added o n t he out

s i d e o ne m o r e “ Sh i n”w h i c h w e do no t had m e n t i oned

e l se w he r e . (59) The m o t i v e w he r eb y t h e y w e r e led t o

59) T h e T w o S h i n s T i t"

) a re i n deed m e n t i o n ed

tn T O s pha t h ( M enaho t h 35) i n t h e n a m e o f S /zem us/( e A’

a é/i a

i n t h e fo l lo w i n g w o rds : “ A n d h e pu t s a t h ree - h eade d S h i n

{ct ! o n t h e r ig h t s i de a nd a fou r - h eaded S h i n ( Up) o n t h e

l e f t . and i t does n o t m a t te r i f h e c h a n ge t h em ”

, f rom w h i c h

w e m ay j udge t h a t i t w a s ne w to t h e w r i te r . t h a t

S /zem us/zu R afi/m w a s w e ca n n o t fi n d Out,sa v e w h a t R

.\ i e nahem o f Pa n u s t a ted,t h a t h e S /zem us/ze R ub/m sa i d h i s

w o rds i n t h e n am e o f t h e G aoni m . R . M oses o f Coucy

di d no t m e n t io n t h e S /zem z/s /zc [Ca b/m a t a ll. f rom w h i c h w e

m a y co n c l ude e i t h e r t h a t i t w a s n o t i n ex i s te n c e i n h i s d a y s .

o r t h a t i t w a s n o t k n o w n a t l ea s t t o h i m . T h e c o l l ec t i o n T OS

ph a t h w a s m a de , a s w e h a v e p r o v e n i n our P h y l . R i t . . i n t he

c ou rs e o f 49 2 7 5060 A . .\ I bec a use R . .\ l ose s o f Co u c y i s

m e n t i o n ed t h e r e i n . S e e I’hyl. R i t . , p . ( 4 1 . A n d t h e r e fo r e

78

t h i s w as s i m p l y be ca u se t h e y p r obab l y fo u nd on e se t of

t ep h i lli m w i t h a t h r ee - headed S h i n ( C ) a n d o n e W i t h a

fo u r h ead ed S h i n t he t h r ee h ead ed Sh i n adopt ed

b y t he J e w i s h C h r i s t i a ns as an em b l em o i'

t he T r i n i t y ,

and t he to u r - h ea ded one adop t ed b y t he J e w s i n op

pos i t i o n t o t he Je w i s h C h r i s t i an s , and i nd i ca t i ng t ha t

G od i s one i n a ll t he to u r q u a r t e r s of t he w or l d . A s

t he y di d no t k no w t he expl ana t i o n s and w h i c h o n e t o

p r efe r , t h e y adopt ed bo t h or t hem,fo l lo w i ng t he ex

am pl e ol'

t he Ta lm u d i n s u c h cases . So aft e r u n de r

g o i n g n u m e r o u s c h a nges w e h a v e t he t ep /z i lli m i n

i f i n d eed t h e S /z z m us/z z A’a lzba i s q uo t ed i n T o spha t h . w h i c h

w a s n o t fo r p r a c t i c a l a pp l i c a t i o n,b u t o n l y a s an e x p la n a t i o n

o f a ba lm /m i x. w e c a n n o t c o n c l u de t h e r e fr om t h a t t h e G a on i m

had t w o S h i n s o n t h e w h i c h t h ey w o r e . B ut i t m a y

be p r es u m ed t h a t t h e y w e r e a lr e a dv t h i n k i n g a bou t t h e S h i n s

a nd c o u l d n o t dec i de w h a t to do . a s t h e y p r oba b l y fo u n d

a n c i e n t s e ts o f w i t h bo t h t h e 13° a nd t h e 1L" , t he s t y l e

o f t h e Je w i s h C h r i s t i a n s a nd t h e Je w s , a nd so u se d bo t h t o

ge t h e r . R . .\ loses o f C o uc y a pp l i e d t h i s t o p r a c t i c e a nd m a de

bo t h S h i n s O b l i ga t o r y .

79

t he i r p r ese n t fo r m ,an d no o n e h as an y t h i ng aga i ns t

t hem . (60)

W i t h t h i s w e conc lud e a s ho r t h i s t o r y o t’

t he t ep /t

i lli m ,a nd w e fi nd i t on l y n ecessa r y to r em a r k t h a t a t,

p r ese n t t he c u s t om of w ea r i ng tep h i lli m i s g r o w i ng

l ess a n d l ess,not o n l y am ong the r e fo r m ed . l e w s but

e v e n al so am ong t he O r t hodox J e w s ; as m a n y of t h em

sa t i sfy t h em se l v e s w i t h pe r for m i ng t h i s ce r em on y onlv

o n ce i n t h e i r l i fe , i . e . w he n a bo y r eac h es t he age of

t h i r t ee n y ea r s . a t w h i c h age h e i s con s i d e r ed t o be

r i pe”

for pe r fo rm i ng al l r e l i g i on s ce r em on i es . The y

t a k e h i m t o t he s y n agog u e and put t he tep h i ll i m u pon

h i m,a n d t he bo y ne v e r r epea t s t he ce r em on y . I n t h i s

t he O r t h odox J e w s p r obab l y ag r ee w i t h R . A lfa s i,w ho

( 60) Ra b b i C h a i m O ppe n h e i m o f T u r i n ha s i n dee d c a l l ed a t t e n

t i o n t o t h e fa c t t h a t t he G r a n d R a bb i M o r dec a i Be n e t c r ea t e d

a gr ea t u p r oa r b v c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e YPp/uY/i m W o r n a t t h e p r e

s e n t da v a r e i n v a l i d ( 5105 T h e ( l r a nd R a bb i ( Re fo r m ed i

A a r o n H a r i ne r s e n t us a n a n s w e r o n t h i s pm n t . b u t w e li zi ve

n e v e r h a p pe n ed t o s e e a n y t h i n g w r i t t e n o n t h i s s u bj ec t b v

t h e R a bb i i n q ues t i o n . and w e h a v e so ug h t i n fo r m a t i o n f ro m

m anv w r i t e r s b u t s o fa r i n v a i n .

81)

sa y s t h a t i f an y o ne has w o r n tep h i lli m once i n h i s l i fe

he ca nno t be ca l l ed Po - he I s r a e l pens )

mats: Sm w‘

a J e w c u r sed i n h i s bod y”

A nd pos

s i bly t h e y u sed t o do so i n t he da y s of R . A ll'

as i . A s

w e h a v e a g r ea t r u l e fr om R . H i l l e l ha - Zapen , w ho

o nce sa i d : " You can r e l y u po n t he J e w s i t'

t h e y a r e

no t t h em se l v es p r oph e t s ,t !. ey a r e t he son s ofpr ophe t s .

. \nd so t h e y p r obablv k no w w h a t t h e y a r e do i ng.

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

- 8"

fr om t he G e r m an “am u l e t

”

,and i t i s de r i v ed acco r d .

i ng t o t he op i n i on of a fe w fr om t he La t i n v e r b

a m oli r z'

,w h i c h m ean s t o r em o v e a l l k i n d s of sutfer i ngs

and m i sc h i efs ; but I can no t app r o v e t h i s Op i n i on , an d

i n m y j u dgm en t t he m os t co r r ec t op i n i on i s t h at of

H am m e r t h a t am u l e t i s A r ab i c an d m ean s an a r t i c l e

w o r n b y t he A r a bs a r o u n d t he nec k fo r t he p u r pose of

k eep i ng t hem fr om h a r m,et c . T h u s w e u nd er s t an d

t h a t t he w o r d (V‘

D p) i s de r i v ed fr om ( i mp n,‘

p) , an d

t h i s m ean s t he d a ng l i ng or an y t h i ng a r o u n d an y pa r t

of t he bod y . The c ha nge t o (12) i s not new .

”

T hese a r e D r . D us ha k’

s o r ig i n a l w o r d s i n o u r E bhen

S app z'

r, p . 36

,w h e r e t he r ead e r m ay see our r em a r k s

u pon t h em .

M r . R echeles opposed D r . D u s h a k (Ib i d . p . 46)

and m a i n t a i ned t h a t "Th i s w o r d c rop) o r i g i n a t es fr om

t he La t i n and i s com posed of t he w o r d s cum m e ( w i t h

m e) , beca u se of i t s be i ng a lw a ys a t t ach ed t o t he bod y,

ne v e r r em o v ed e v e n for a m om en t,t ha t m i sc h i ef m ay

be k ept fr om t he w ea r e r .

D r . Plant,t he R a bb i of li

’

r ank l‘

or t o n t he Ma i n,

aft e r exam i n i ng t he abo v e - m en t i o n ed op i n i on s of D r .

D u s h a k an d .\ I r . R echeles,w r o t e u s t he fo l l o w i ng

“T he w o r d (prop) i s de r i v ed fr om t he lo w La t i n

83

ca m m a eus,

w h i ch m ea n s a cam eo,o r an em bossed

figur e on a p r ec i ous s t one , w o r n b y t he an c i en t na t

i o n s on t h e i r b r eas t an d a r m s as a t a l i sm an . A nd

i n h i s op i n i on t he Talm u d i s t s bo r r ow ed t h i s n am e for

an y a r t i c l e w o rn as a t a l i sm an (nSi JD ) . See our jour

nal H a - K ol. No . 300.

F i n d i ng no sa t i sfac t i on i n t he abo v e ~m en t i oned

exp l a n a t i o ns , for r easo n s w h i c h w e s h a l l h e r e i n aft e r

s t a t e . w e w r o t e (No v . 1 1 , 1891 ) t o t he w e l l - k no w n

a u t h o r of t he A r uch H a sholem,the R ev. D r . Koh u t ,

as k i ng h i s Op i n i o n abo u t t he w o r d ga m ea,and

r ece i v ed i n r ep l y t he fo l lo w i ng °

N ew Yor k,No v . 12

,1891 .

R ev. D a . M . L . R O D K I N S ON '

Yo u r es t eem ed l e t t e r h as j u s t bee n r ece i v e d

a n d I h as t e n t o a n s w e r y o u,as “ i n t he m om e n t

w h e n y o u see a schola r you s h a l l b l es s h i m”

ar m )

(nan; n“

n5.

You r eq u es t m v Op i n i o n i n r ega r d t o t he w o r d

y‘tz p . I h a v e w r i t t e n m u c h abo u t i t i n m y w o r k ,

A r ne/t Vo l . V I I . p . 1 23,and the fo l l o w i ng

84

i s w h a t t he a u t ho r of t he“A r u c h D r . Na t h an .

sa y s a bo u t i t .

(H e r e D r . Koh u t c i t es t he w o r d s of A r uch an d

Jlusp lu’

o w i t h a l i s t of al l t he p l aces w he r e t he w o r d

L"D Pocc u r s i n t he Ta l m u d an d M idr ash i m a nd add s h i s

o w n op i o i on t h a t i t i s de r i v ed fr om a G r eek w o r d

w h i c h m ea n s a“ k no t ” an d r efe r s t o m an y passag es

t o p r o v e i t,w h i c h a re u n n ecessa r y t o q u ot e h e r e ,

as t he A m e/c H a she lem can be fo u n d i n an y li b

r a r y . H e t he n p r oceeds as fo l l o w s :)“ C o i i eer ning t he w o r d ca m m a eus fr om w h i c h

t he w o r d m ap i s s u pposed t o be d e r i v ed,I beg t o

sa y t h a t i t i s no t t o be fo u nd i n t he d i c t i on a r i es

of t he La t i n cla ss i c l i t er a t u r e . an d i t appea r ed for

t he fi r s t t i m e i n A . D . See D u F r es ne ,

Gloss a r i um , cam m aeus .

A nd w i t h t h i s I am w i t h r ega r d s .

Yo u r s v e r y t r u l y,

HANO R J E H U D A ( D r . Koh u t ) .

N ow D r . Koh u t h as o v e r t h r o w n D r . P l a n t ’s

Op i n i o n b y p ro v i ng t h a t t he w or d ca m m a eus appea r ed

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86

a t l eas t de r i v ed i t fr om a H eb r e w w or d, i

‘DP.

The r efo r e i n a seeond l e t t e r t o D r . Kohut w e ex

pr essed our op i n i on t h at t he w o r d r a p m ay be

de r i v ed fr om S ho w (“a l i t t l e . or a sm a l l

po r t i on"

) fo u nd i n t he Ta lm u d ; beca u se a ga m ea

Wrap) con t a i ns fr agm e n t s of t he n am es of a nge l s ,

gods,e t c . and i n r ep l y t o t h i s t he R ev. D r . Koh u t

w r o t e t he fo l l o w i ng . bea r i ng d a t e , No v . 17,1891

“ I n r efe r e n ce t o y o u r second l e t t e r I beg t o

sa v i n o r d e r '

“ 1 ) H i m a le t , H am a le t,w h i c h a r e d e r i v ed fr om

t he La t i n (unule t zun and t he G e r m an A m ulet,h a v e

no t h i m r i n com mo n w i t h t he w o r d V‘ D p, w h i c h i s

de r i v ed fr om t he G r ee k U ] as [ h a v e p r o v ed

i n A r uch H a s holem,Vo l . vi i . fol. 1 22 , pp . 1 and 2

I n t he sam e w o r k , fol. 1 23 b,I t r i ed to

exp l a i n t he w o r d H S D‘

P, S L’D

‘

p, aft er g i v i ng a l i s t

of a l l p l aces w h e r e t h i s w o r d occ u r s i n t he Ta lm u d ,

and i n m y Opi n i o n t h i s w o r d i s de r i v ed fr om t he

Pe r s i a n 1m m,k a m i ‘nc p c an and m ean s “ a po r t i on ,

a l i t t l e" , a m l I quo t e t he op i n i on of T i shb i w ho t r i ed

to exp l a i n i t t h u s beca u se a L‘

flb p con t a i n s sm a l l po r t i

o ns a m i fr agm en t s and a bb r e v i a t i on s ofdi fi'

er cnt w r i

t i ngs . and t h e r efo r e i t i s ca l l ed a B ut t h i s Op i ni o n

87

i s t oo fa r - fe t ched (pr im ) . The w o r k N ’K or C ha i m

b y R . J oseph K a r o i s not t o be fo u n d i n m y li b

r a r y,and I h a v e n e v e r see t he w or k

, ,Caph t o r ve

Pher ach,b y L uz a t t o

,but; on l y a w o r k w i t h t he sam e

n am e b y E de lm an . I h a v e H a i-

Oh b y H i r sc h, but

i n t h a t tep h i lli m i s s u pposed t o be de r i v ed fr om

“t o p r a y

”

,see i b i a’, p . 231

, but y o u w o u ld

not t he r e fi n d w h a t y o u d es i r e”

.

N ow s i n ce D r . Koh u t h as dec l ar ed t h a t T i shbi

p r eceded us w i t h t he Opi n i o n t h at t he w o r d w rap

i s d e r i v ed fr om Nm‘

p .ntx‘ra‘

p (kam ,k am i ) . w h i c h

m ean s i n Pe r s i an,

“a l i t t l e”

,w e app r o v e t he Op i n i o n

Of T i shb i an d d o not fi n d i t fa r - fe t c h ed (pum a)

as D r . Koh u t fi nd s i t ; an d t h a t for t he fo l l ow i ng

r eason 8 °

R . Na t h an,t he a u t h o r of t he A r uch

,w as

v e r y c a r efu l i n exp l a i n i ng t he w o r d ga m ea as

m ea n i n g new“a k n o t ”

,c i t i ng o n l y t he p lace B echo

r a th 30,

“ I t h appen ed to a w om an a nd s h e

w as fo l d i ng (h ym n) h i m tep h i lli m ; aft e r w a r d s w h en

s h e w a s m a r r i ed t o a n i gno r an t m an (ram D i ?)

s he u sed t o t i e h i m qosh r e m ockson ; (103m”new

fr om w h i ch w e m ay co n c l u d e t h a t t he w o r d hum p

i s som e t h i ng l i k e t y i ng,o r WU

‘

P to“ k no t T he

88

a u t ho r of t he .\I usph i o (appe nd i x t o t he A r ne/c)

w a s a l so ca r efu l i n exp l a i n i ng t he w o rd as t he

sam e a s“

i t "? and s i m p l y a dd s : “ I t i s a k i nd of

tyi ng . and t h e r e a r e som e m ed i cam en t s w h i c h a r e

t i ed t o t he n ec k, e t c . B ut D r . Koh u t

,w i s h i ng

t o do som e t h i ng s u r pr i s i ng (1 5 1: ma in) (us i ng h i s

o w n w o r d s ) an d ex h i b i t h i s k no w l edge of o t he r

l ang u ages,fo u n d t he w o r d H i m a , and i n t he M i d

r a s h Ife z '

es /z i t/t R a bba. be fo u nd a w o r d [t i /nus w h i c h

he co r r ec t ed t o I i i /m un a n d c la i m ed i t as t he s am e

as H i m a,and beca u se t he l a t t e r w o r d m ean s a ” k n o t ”

‘ h e expla i nd t he w o r d v‘D p t o m ea n w e'p See

A r ne/t H a s/tolem, p . 1 27.

H a v i ng m ade o ne m i s t a k e i n g i v i ng t he abo v e

exp l a n a t i o n , h e m u s t need s m a k e a n o t he r on e,an d

so h e exp r ess ed t he fo l l o w i n g base l ess Op i n i on

“ I t seem s t o m e t h a t m ap m u s t h a v e com e i n (s i c !)

fr om t he m a r g i n [see r em a r k be lo w ] r efe r r i ng t o

B ut h i s exp l a n a t i o n an d op i n i o n a r e

b ) T h e g r a n d R a bb i o f t h e c o n gr e ga t i o n A /za z m t /z C /z z sed

( D r . Ko h u t ) i s a n e x c e l l e n t p r e a c h e r a nd a good t ea c h e r, b u t

h i s k n o w l e d ge i n t h e o r i e n t a l t o n gues a nd es pec i a l l y i n t he

H e b r e w la n gua ge . i s n o t v e r y p r ec i se i n t h i s a s w e l l a s i n m a

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90

not eas i l y u n de r s t ood N‘N

“

r m x5) , as We h a v e

a l r ead y s t a t ed ,fo r i f t he m ean i ng of

'

w e r e

“u

p,t h en t he M e

'

s/m a w o u l d cer t a inlv h a v e u sed

t he w o r d i‘ a i cm w h i c h i s H eb r e w , h a v i ng i n t he

B i bl e t he sam e m ean i n g , r a t h e r t h an a G r ee k w o r d

A nd t h e r efo r e w e a r e i n c l i n ed t o app r o v e t he ep i

n i on of‘

T i s h h i,t h a t a V‘

D P co n t a i n ed sm a l l pi eces

R . F i n n s h o w ed m a n y e x a m p l e s o f t h i s , a l t h o ug h h e s a w

o n ly o n e pa r t o f t h e fi r s t v o l u m e o f D r . Ii o hut’s w o r k .

But w e w ho ha ve had t h e h o n o r to see t h e w o r k a s c om p

le t ed a r e so r r y t o s a y t h a t t he a u t h o r i s n o t y e t f u l l y q u a l i

fi ed a nd t h e A r m /1 [l ax/101m : n e eds m a n y i m por t a n t i m p r o v e

m e n t s . Fo r i n s t a n c e , n o t u n de r s t a n d i n g c o r r ec t l y t h e v e r a

s es o f R . Na t h a n , t he a u t h o r o f t h e A r m /z, h e c o n c l u ded

t h a t h e w a s a t r a v e l i n g m e r c h a n t w i t h s h i r t s ( peddle r ,

A l so . no t be i n g q ua l i fi e d fo r t h i s w o r k . h e om i t s n a m e s

o f a u t h ors w h os e w o r k s h e C i t es , a s i n t h e S ec t i o n o f D r .

Fr a n ke l . No t be i n g pe r fec t i n H eb r e w , h e us es t h e e x

p r ess io n . “a nd D i L a r o p r e c eded m e w i t h t h i s e x p la n a t i o n

,

”

a l t h o u g h D r . Ko h u t n e v e r be fo r e w ro t e o n t he po i n t . e t c

S e e a l s o " H a c ha lu t z vo l. V I I , p p . 85— 95 w h e r e m a n y o t h e r

i n s t a n c es a r e

We h ope D r . Ko h u t w i l l pa r do n u s fo r t h i s : fo r , a s

t h e p r o v e r b sa y s : “ R es pec t S oc r a tes a nd r es pec t P la to,

b u t r es pe c t t h e t r u t h t h e m os t . ”

91

of pa r c hm en t w i t h n am es of ange l s,e t c .

,and i n

p r oof of t h i s w e c i t e t he fo l l o w i ng p l ace i n t he

M i shna (T r ac t S h abba t h ) ,“ A p i ece of s k i n eno u gh

to m a k e a War) and pa r ch m en t en o u gh t o w r i t e

t he r eon a sm a ll t ex t of tep h i lli m F r om t h i s w e

m ay j u dge t h a t t he w o r d Wop as u sed b y t he doc

t o r s of t he M i slm a did no t s i gn i fy t he p a r chm ent

an d w h a t w a s w r i t t e n u po n i t . but t he ca s e w h i c h

co n t a i ned t he pa r c hm e n t and w r i t i ngs ; and no t

as i n t he l a t e r ce n t u r i es w hen t hey bega n t o cal l

t he pa r chm e n t a n d w r i t i ngs L“D p. The r efo r e i t .

w as t h a t t he doc t o r s of t he Talm u d bo r r o w ed t h i s

w o r d v‘ tap a l so for t he tep h i lli m . as w e fi nd i t

p l a i n l y i n t he t r ac t u po n tep h i lli m :“ I f h e r e v e r se

("

tom t he War) i t i s con s i d e r ed i n v a l i d”

w h i c h

m ean s i f h e r e v e r se t he tep h i lli m ; see P h y l . K i t .

1 2 6 . Th e fo l l o w i n g i s a l so fo u n d ( i b i d.

“ I f

h e m a k e i t as a k i n d o ffv‘D P i t i s t h e n i n v a l i d

(Steal. Th i s m ea n s i f on e m ad e a k i nd o f"

case i n

w h i c h t he w r i t i ngs a r e p l aced . Fo r t h ese r eason s

t he .ll i s h na co u l d no t t e r m i t w h i c h m ean s

a n a r t i c l e di r ec t l y t i ed to t he bod y,but t e r m ed

i t y'

b p. w h i c h m ean s an a r t i c l e m ade up of a

col l ec t i on o f sm a l l po r t i on s of nam es and a bb r e v .

i a t i ons o f t he na m es o f ange l s p la ced i n a s k i n

c ase fo lded and a t t a c h ed t o a s t r i ng a nd t i ed a r o u nd

t he neck . I n t h i s w ay i t com p r i sed t he m ean i ng

of t he t h r ee w o rd s t oge t h e r : re p, a c ollec t i on,c ap

t o fo ld,a nd s pam . a li t t le

,a sm a ll po r t i on. T h e

H i s/m a i n o t he r p l aces i s a lso i n t he h ab i t of

t er m i ng an a r t i c l e w h i c h i s p l a i t ed a nd do u b led

012 3 1“

pa : ra w ! o r M o ldi ngs,a s t he fo ld i n g s o n

t he nec k (N egohn,Sec t . A nd

l i k e w i se t he y u sed t he expr essm n th an 15 nrm p

s h e u sed t o fo l d t he t ep h i lli m o n h i m,as t he

w o r d WS'

P i s no t a pp r opr i a t e to expr ess t he fa s t

eni ng of t he t ep h i lli m . Fo r t he tep h i lli m t hem

se l v es a re no t fa s t e n ed t o t he bod y . but o n l y t he

fi l le t s , w h i c h a r e fo l ded a r o u n d t he a r m and head

. \nd fo r t h i s r eason t he l a t t e r a u t ho r i t i es p r o h i b i t ed

u t t e r i ng t he b l ess i ng of t he tep h i lli m fifins) w i t h t he

w o r d s . “t o t i e t he tep h i lli m

”

( i‘ S‘ Dn s te ps) fr om Dm

’

J'

pt ,

w h i c h i s fo u nd i n t he B i b l e and t o W h i c h t h e y

r efe r t he t ep h i lli m , but enj o i n t he w o r d “t o put

n

on r r J-‘

lb : beca u se on l y t he to tap ho th w e r e

t i ed fr om ea r t o c a r,but no t t he t ep h i ll i m t hem

se l v es . For a s i m i l a r r ea so n t he Ta l m u d p r efe r r ed

t he w o r d am p t o t he w o r d o n beca u se t he

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