CURRENT TALMUD PASSAGE
Learn with Rabbi Abrams!
If you like the website, you’ll love learning with Rabbi
Abrams in person even more! She can come to your synagogue or
group as a scholar-in-residence or you can learn with her long
distance via phone or skype. You can also have her teach single
lectures to your group. Click here for a list of just a few of the
talks available.
Posted November 20, 2009, by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer
to Maqom's home page for information about previous passages.
BH
CHECK UNDER YOUR BED; TAVI MIGHT BE
THERE!
© Judith Z. Abrams, 2009
Here's another story about Tavi from
the Yerushalmi and it offers a wonderful glimpse into the world
of the sages. Tavi was Rabban Gamliel's slave, but the two of
them were very close and Rabban Gamliel respected Tavi's wisdom.
The story is told in the context of a dispute as to whether one
fulfills the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah if he sleeps under
the bed in the sukkah.
It is taught: Tavi, Rabban Gamliel's
slave, would wear tefillin and the sages did not protest his
actions [even though slaves are exempt from the mitzvah of tefillin].
[So why would Tavi sleep under the bed in the sukkah? Presumably
he would be allowed to sleep normally and observe the mitzvah
of sleeping in the sukkah.] Tavi slept under the bed in order
that more sages could get into the sukkah.
So then why would Tavi stay in the sukkah
at all and take up any room? He should have stayed out of it
completely! Tavi did it so he could listen to the learning and
conversation of the sages. (Y. Sukkah 2:1)
Discussion Questions:
- Rabban Gamliel was wealthy and important
and it sounds as if his sukkah reflects his social prominence.
Many people would come to his sukkah to study and, perhaps, to
sleep. This isn't the first time we've seen that Tavi is not
merely a slave, but an important part of Rabban Gamliel's household.
First, an ethical question: do you hire household help? If you
do, how does Rabban Gamliel's relationship with Tavi show you
how to deal with those who work for you?
- The question must be asked: why didn't
Rabban Gamliel set Tavi free? Tavi was interested in the sages'
world and wisdom and Rabban Gamliel clearly liked him. So why
did Rabban Gamliel keep him as a slave? Or are we perhaps understanding
slave here incorrectly? Is Tavi perhaps a paid servant or considered
a member of the family?
- Rabban Gamliel wasn't the only one
with a huge sukkah. Queen Helena of the Adiabene had a sukkah
so big it had rooms!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!