12 min listen
Gittin 57: Titus, Balaam, Jesus, and Rome
FromTalking Talmud
ratings:
Length:
25 minutes
Released:
Jul 12, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
On Onkelos -- the famous translator, who converted to Judaism. The Gemara here presents his investigations prior to conversion, wherein he consults some dead and ostensibly wicked non-Jews: Titus, Balaam, Jesus. Titus advises him to fight the Jews, not join them. Also, concern about the small size of the Land of Israel, and the way it's going to expand as needed. Plus, other famous converts - Na'aman, Nevuzadran, Haman's descendants, Sisera's descendants, Sennacharib's descendants... Shmaya and Avtalyon, from the "Zugot." Also, reading Rome into the Genesis narrative, with Jacob and Esau standing in for Israel and Rome, and the evil wrought by the empire.
[NOTE: The audio cuts out here and there - as noted several times, the app is giving us (Anne especially) problems - but we've double- and triple-checked, and the content is there, despite the occasional blip]
[NOTE: The audio cuts out here and there - as noted several times, the app is giving us (Anne especially) problems - but we've double- and triple-checked, and the content is there, despite the occasional blip]
Released:
Jul 12, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Introduction and Berakhot 2 by Talking Talmud