Rabbi Rifat Sonsino. Ph.D
I belong to a unique rabbinic study group that meets online in the greater Boston area, religiously, every Monday morning, 10 am to 11.30 am. We have been doing this for a few decades. To my knowledge, there is nothing like this in the States. We rarely take a vacation. We are 11 retired Reform Rabbis, and consider this endeavor as a sacred commitment. We are now studying Ruth Rabba, a 6th century CE rabbinic Midrash that comments line by line on the biblical book of Ruth. It was composed in Israel and written in mishnaic Hebrew as well as in Galilean Aramaic, and contains many Greek words.
- Knowing how important it is to
preserve a good reputation in life, the ancient Rabbis taught:
“Praiseworthy is the person who has departed from this world with a good
name.” (RR 2:7) After all, after we die that is all that matters.
- Teaching appropriate behavior,
they also stressed that “One engages in sexual relations at night, not during the
day.”(RR 2:16) Many would probably take exception to this teaching. I
guess the Rabbis were concerned about issues of privacy.
- Commenting on the biblical
teaching that gives priority to a worthy life here on earth, as stated in
Eccl. 9:14, “A live dog is better than a dead lion,” the ancient sages
maintained that in this world one can, and should, improve his/her lot but not after death,
for it would be too late: They say, “in this world one who is a dog can
become (as strong) as a lion, but in the world to come (namely, at the end
of time after death), one who is a lion cannot become a dog, and anyone
who is a dog cannot become a lion.”
(RR 3:2)
