Friday, August 5, 2011
To Serve and To Praise 12
The Gemara in Taanis 16a records that during the series of communal fasts ordained on account of drought, the Jews would assemble in the graveyard. One of the reasons that the Gemara offers for this practice is "so that the deceased pray for mercy on our behalf." Does this practice violate Rambam's fifth principle?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Would it be too picky to point out that Taanis doesn't say that the Jews would /ask/ the deceased to pray, only that the deceased /would/ pray?
ReplyDeleteVery good - you anticipated the next post.
ReplyDeleteBut... this would just beg the question why exactly are we going the graveyard. Apparently, even after death our forefathers pray for us. Do they need us to be at the graveside. Is it our mere presence. If so, then maybe they need us to ask them to pray? If effect (forefathers praying) needs cause (going to graveside), then why can't we modify the cause to be requesting. This does not mean that they have free will, rather that there apparently is a cause needed for the effect of forefathers praying?
ReplyDeleteRequesting implies that the deceased have the choice whether or not to pray for us; other causes may not have such an implication. For example, if, by blocking the road, I force you to take another route to your destination, I am simply controlling your actions, not your inherent ability to choose.
ReplyDeleteWhat remains to be explained, however, is how our presence at the graveside of the Avos causes them to pray for us, in a way other than requesting does.
It is entirely possible that there is a system where a "request" demands a response. If you would prefer, one can call it a demand. Meaning, the only time our forefathers beseech on our behalf is when we ask them to. This does not mean that when we ask them they have a choice, for once we ask them they must. But the system is set up that one must press the right buttons to cause them to pray, and this button may be a request/ demand.
ReplyDeleteI readily agree that this is a strange system, but the alternative is not compelling either.