OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI
Issue #274 May 20, 2000
Parshat Behar
=====================================
In this issue:
MEAH SHEARIM
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS -- THE WORLD'S YOUNGEST RABBI
WHO IS A BAGEL
WHO KNOWS 15?
=====================================

MEAH SHEARIM

From:  Stephanie in Tomelilla, Sweden
<stephanie@kurir.net>

  Dear Rabbi,
  What is Meah Shearim?

Dear Stephanie,
Meah Shearim is the name of a Jerusalem neighborhood about a
ten minute walk from where I am sitting!

"Meah Shearim" means "a hundred-fold" or "a hundred gates."
It is one of the oldest Jerusalem neighborhoods outside the
walls of the old city, founded by devoutly orthodox Jews in
the 19th century.

It was originally settled by just over 100 families who signed
up to be part of the new "colony," and they took the name
"Meah Shearim" from the weekly Torah reading.  The signing
occurred during "Parshat Toldot," the week when the Torah
portion read in synagogues tells of Isaac's great success:
"He planted in that land and found in that (famine) year a
hundred-fold (of the estimated produce), for G-d had blessed
him." (Genesis 26)  Thus, the place was named Meah Shearim,
indicating Divine blessing 100 times the expected.

This name was also chosen due to the founders' awareness of
kabbalah, Jewish mysticism.  The numerical value of the words
Meah Shearim equals 666, which has esoteric and kabbalistic
meaning in Judaism, as indicated by the Vilna Gaon in his
commentary to the Zohar.

Stephanie, thank you for your question!  Because of it, I was
able to learn some fascinating new insights into a
neighborhood which I can see from my window.

=====================================

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS -- THE WORLD'S YOUNGEST RABBI

From:  Duncan Flett in London, UK
<duncan.flett@guinnessrecords.com>

  Dear Sir/Madam,
  I am a researcher with Guinness World Records, the world's
  biggest selling copyright book.  I write as one who needs
  some help with an issue concerning Judaism -- should you not
  be able to help me could you please kindly pass this mail
  onto a colleague or associate that you think may be able to
  help.  I am currently looking into finding the world's
  youngest qualified rabbi ever.  I was hoping you could help
  point me in the right direction.  Many thanks.

Dear Duncan Flett,
The Talmud records that Shmuel Hanavi (Samuel the Prophet) at
age two rendered a complicated yet correct legal decision
based on the Talmudic principles of Biblical interpretation.
The correctness of his ruling was endorsed by the High Priest
and the leading Sage of the day, Eli Hakohen.  (Talmud Bavli,
Tractate Berachot 31b)

The basis for understanding that the above encounter occurred
while Shmuel was only two is the Book of Samuel I, chapter
one, which records this event as having taken place just after
the child was weaned, which throughout the Talmudic writings
is considered to be age two.  (Tractate Ketubot and
elsewhere.)

That would make him just about the youngest Rabbi around!

=====================================

WHO IS A BAGEL

From:  <Name@Withheld> in Germany

  Dear Rabbi,
  What's a bagel?

Dear <Name@Withheld>,
A hole with dough around it!  A bagel is an individual-sized,
ring-shaped bread roll.  It is made from yeast dough, briefly
boiled and then baked.

The bagel has given rise to the ancient saying:  The optimist
sees the bagel, the pessimist sees the hole!

=====================================

WHO KNOWS 15?

In the song at the end of the Pesach Seder we describe the
significance of the numbers from one to thirteen as they
relate to Jewish life and thought.  "Three are the fathers,
Four are the Mothers12 are the Tribes of Israel"  What about
the next 13 numbers?  And after those?  What significance do
they have in Jewish tradition?

This week, we challenge to answer: "Who knows 15?"
Write to <info@ohr.org.il>

Last time we asked:  Who knows 14?  Here are some reader
responses:

How about:  4 cups of wine, 3 matzahs, 6 items on seder plate
(beitza, z'roa, karpas, chazeres, marror, charoses), and salt
water = 14 things used at the seder.
                                  Marc Melincoff
                                  <marcdo@medscape.com>

I was born and raised in Amsterdam, Holland and every year at
the seder we used to say:  "And 14 who knows?  14 is Johan
Cruijff (world famous Dutch soccer player with number 14 on
his shirt).  Sorry I couldn't come up with something more
halachic.
                                  Nathalie Zafrany
                                  <zafrany@internet-zahav.net>

Rachel's 14 family members who go to Egypt (Bereishet 46:22).
                                  Raffi
                                  <RaffiAs@shaam.gov.il>

I know 14!  14 is the number of calendrical permutations (i.e.
depending on whether the year has 12 or 13 months, what day
Rosh Hashana is on, etc. the calendar can take on 14 different
arrangements).
                                  Tzvi Goldman
                                  <goldmat@ecf.utoronto.ca>

14 years Yaakov worked for Rachel and Leah, 14 advisers to
King Achashverosh.
                                  Aaron and Tzippy Ross
                                  <asr209@is7.nyu.edu>

14 years conquering and settling the Land of Israel by Joshua
and the 12 tribes.
                                  Ephy Carmel
                                  <ephy.carmel@ps.ge.com>

14 separate ritual components of the seder, kadesh urchatz,
etc.  (Motzi-matzah is regarded as one).
                                  Rabbi Jeffrey M. Cohen
                                  Stanmore, Middlesex, UK
                                  <Jeffrey@yonah.demon.co.uk>

14 lambs offered each day of Succot; 14 days of dedication of
the first Temple by Solomon.
                                  Rabbi Edward M. Friedman,
                                  Synagogue Emanu-El,
                                  Charleston, S. Carolina
                      <Edward.M.Friedman.C71@alumni.upenn.edu>

The 14 books of Rambam's (Maimonides) Yad Hachazakah.  The
Hebrew word "yad" has the numerical value 14.
                                  Aryeh Wanderman
                                  <kwander@inter.net.il>

=====================================
Our scholars answer over 100 queries every day.
For donations click on:
https://www.virtual.co.il/secure/ohrsomayach/donate/donate.htm
or write to us at info@ohr.org.il
=====================================
If you like this e-mail, share it with a friend.
=====================================
Submit your questions to "ASK THE RABBI" at:
http://www.asktherabbi.org
Or E-Mail: info@ohr.org.il
=====================================
EVERY question EVER published in ASK THE RABBI
is available on-line in an easy-to-use index!
http://www.ohr.org.il/web/index/askidx.htm
=====================================
Ohr Somayach's other e-mail publications:
Ohrnet, Torah Weekly, Parsha Q&A, Ask the Rabbi,
The Weekly Daf, Seasons of the Moon,
OS-Special, Torah and Nature, Judaismo,
Judaismo-p, Light Lines, Ohrnews, Simcha, OS-Alum.
To subscribe, write to info@ohr.org.il
=====================================
IF YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE from this list,
send the message:
unsubscribe ask to: listproc@vjlists.com
=====================================
Dedication opportunities available for ASK THE RABBI!
Please contact us for details.
=====================================
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Eli Ballon
=====================================
ASK THE RABBI is written at
Ohr Somayach Institutions / Tanenbaum College
22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103
Jerusalem 91180, Israel
Tel: 972-2-581-0315 Fax: 972-2-581-2890
E-Mail:  info@ohr.org.il   Home Page:  http://www.ohrnet.org
=====================================
(C) 2000 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.


