OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI
Issue #287 September 23, 2000 / 23 Elul 5760
Parshat Nitzavim/Vayelech
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In this issue:
CIRCULAR REASONING
GOOD NEWS FOR JEWS?
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CIRCULAR REASONING

From:  M. Stolzenbach in Brentwood, TN
<Stolzi@aol.com>

  Dear Rabbi,
  A friend asked me about the description of the circular brass pool
  in the Temple.  (I Kings, 7:23)  Skeptics say that if this pool was
  10 across and 30 around, then G-d doesn't seem to know the value of
  "pi."  Either that, or the pool was not exactly circular.

  One friend retorted (this was in e-mail) that approximate
  measurements are enough for some purposes.  But my friend said that
  G-d certainly ought to know the exact facts, and this proved that
  the Bible was written by men, not by G-d.  Can you help him, and me?
  (By the way, he liked your explanation concerning the evidence for
  the Exodus.)  Thanks.

Dear M. Stolzenbach,
First let's define our terms:  Pie is the relationship of one's belly
button to one's belt buckle.

But seriously.  The verse says that Solomon constructed a circular
pool that was "ten cubits from edge to edge....and 30 around."  The
question is, how can this be?  If it was ten across, it would be more
than thirty around.  (It would be closer to 31.4, a difference of 1.4
cubits, or approximately 3 feet.)

This has nothing to do with "knowing the value of pi."  It's a simple
question of circling the pool with a tape measure.  Could it be that
Solomon -- builder of one of the architectural wonders of the ancient
world, the Temple -- had a tape measure that was off by three feet?

Obviously, as the commentaries explain, the verse is offering an
approximation.  There are many such instances where the Torah uses
approximate numbers.  Just one example:  When the Torah tallies the
members of each of the 12 tribes (Numbers 1:20-46), each tribe's
population is rounded to the nearest 50.

Why does the Torah give approximations?  To offer us relevant
information without burdening us with details, details often dealt
with in the Oral Torah.  In the case of "Solomon's Pool," the
approximation teaches us that in Jewish legal matters relating to
construction, we may use this 1 to 3 ratio as an approximation
regarding rabbinical law.

Besides, there is no number to express the value of "pi."  (That's why
it's called "pi" and not written as a number.)  No matter how specific
the verse would be, you could always ask, "why wasn't it more
specific?"  That is, if the verse had said the pool was 31.4 units
around, you could say, "that's wrong, it was really 31.415..." and so
on.

In conclusion, the Torah sometimes approximates, and in the case of "
pi" approximation is mandatory, and none of this shows anything about
the Torah's authorship, Moses' ability to count or Solomon's ability
to wield a tape measure!

A fascinating footnote for the mathematically-minded:  The Vilna Gaon
enlightens us to the fact that the value of "pi," 3.1415, is hinted in
this verse.  In Hebrew, each letter has a number associated with it.
In the above verse, the word "circumference"(kav) is written one way
"kuf vav heh" which equals 111 but it is pronounced a slightly
different way "kuf vav" which equals 106.  (That is, there is a stated
value and an actual value.)  The ratio of these two numbers equals the
ratio of 3 ("pi" as stated by the verse) 3.1415 (the actual value of "
pi" to the 10,000th). [ie. (111 / 106) x 3 = 3.1415]

Sources:
* Rambam, Commentary on the Mishna
* Aruch Hashulchan Orach Chaim 363:22
* See Eruvin 14a

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GOOD NEWS FOR JEWS?

From:  Al Samarov
<Realsmart@Juno.com>

  Dear Rabbi,
  These days, I'm much more interested in the Olympics than in
  politics, but I have one question for you:  What do you think about
  a person as Jewish as Joe Lieberman is, in a position as prominent
  as the Vice Presidency is?  Is it "good for the Jews?"

From:  Elana in Memphis, TN
<eleto@aol.com>

  Dear Rabbi,
  Hi!  I don't know if y'all have received a lot of questions about
  this, but I was just wondering what the Orthodox think of this new
  Joe Lieberman guy running for vice president. Do y'all think it be
  good for the Jews and Israel or not?

Dear Al Samarov and Elana,

My great-great-grandfathers might have known; they were prophets.  I
am not.  Certainly Mr. Lieberman personally is pro-Israel.  But what
might be the reaction of others to the phenomenon of a Jew in such a
high office?

Let me offer one classical Jewish approach to this question, although
there certainly may be others:  The verse says that in exile, the Jews
will suffer "many conflicting evils."  The commentaries explain:  "
Evils that conflict with one another, like the sting of a wasp and a
scorpion."

The remedy for a wasp sting, says tradition, is cold water.  Hot water
aggravates it.  For a scorpion bite, it's the exact opposite:  Hot
water heals, cold water hurts.  But what if someone gets stung by a
bee and a scorpion at the same time?  He can't heal it with hot water;
he can't heal it with cold water.  That's called "conflicting evils."

Sadly, this fairly well describes the Jewish position during much of
our history.  When we are weak, we're oppressed because we are weak.
When we are strong, we're hated because we are strong.  We seem to get
stung either way.

In another vein, note that when Esther became queen of Persia,
Mordechai instructed her to hide the fact that she was Jewish?  Why?
Among other reasons, Mordechai didn't want the Jews in Persia to say "
Hey!  We've got a sister in the palace!" and thereby increase their
complacency and lessen their feelings of dependence on G-d.

But in the U.S. today, one hopes that complacency is already at its
lowest, and that the nomination of a person who observes halacha and
who calls Judaism "the anchor of his life" would evoke renewed
interest in Judaism and Torah observance.

Sources:
* Devarim 31:17
* Da'at Zekenim Mi'ba'alei Hatosefot, ibid.

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