I’m taking a fabulous Sunday class about the Proverbs.
The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is “Míshlê Shlomoh” (“Proverbs of Solomon“). Proverbs is found in “Ketuvim,” a book of the bible. In Hebrew, “bible” is “Tanakh” (TaNaKh = Torah (“Teaching,” also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”). Besides Proverbs, Ketuvim also includes Psalms, Book of Job, Song of Songs, Book of Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Book of Esther, Book of Daniel, Book of Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
I began recording the class in January, almost 10 months ago. This week, in anticipation of transferring the audio files to a CD, to give the class members and teacher, I began to write a key. The key for the proverb lectures states the date of the class, the proverb number in Hebrew and English, and the translation of the title of the proverb (actually, the proverb itself). While writing the key, I realized that this class is one of my passions, worth writing an essay about. In fact, it has motivated me to begin writing in more depth about the proverbs.
I enjoy the class for several reasons:
The teacher is dynamic, intelligent, and motivated.
The subject is one I like – little wisdoms in a nutshell.
I like the depth of thinking, and insights gained from the discussions.
I enjoy learning about the “meforshim” – the people who commented on the original wisdom of the bible – and their ideas concerning the proverb at hand.
I may be gaining some wisdom, thanks to King Solomon and my teacher.
To me, the title of the proverb is like the bait on a hook. It is interesting, and often difficult to catch – it’s abstruse and elusive. For us students to get a grasp of the bait (the proverb title), the teacher provides explanations provided through the years by the giants in biblical study. Some of these giants include Rashi (1040-1105), Nahmanides (Ramban; 1194-1270), the Vilna Gaon (1720-1797), the Malbim (1809-1879), Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), and the Chofetz Chaim (1838-1933).
Here is one example of a proverb title, followed by an explanation.
Proverb 17:27 Someone who has the darkness of his words, he will know understanding. The precious spirit – he is a man of understanding.
This means: Someone who holds back his words, and who weighs his words carefully, is a person of understanding.
I like to see myself as trying to fulfill the Proverbs in my life. If I think I need more work in an area – well – that is good to know, too.
Classic Torah and/or Talmud commentaries
• Geonim
• Saadia Gaon, 10th century Babylon
• Rishonim
Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki), 12th century France [After Rashi the Tosafot were written, which was an omnibus commentary on the Talmud by the disciples and descendants of Rashi; this commentary was based on discussions done in the rabbinic academies of Germany and France].
2. Nahmanides (Moshe ben Nahman)
3. Samuel ben Meir, the Rashbam, 12th century France
4. Rabbi Levi ben Gershom (known as Ralbag or Gersonides)
5. David ben Joseph Kimhi, the Radak, 13th century France
6. Joseph ben Isaac, also known as the Bekhor Shor, 12th century France
7. Nissim ben Reuben Gerondi, the RaN, 14th century Spain
8. Isaac ben Judah Abravanel (1437–1508)
9. Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, 16th century Italy
1. The Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 18th century Lithuania
2. The Malbim, Meir Lob ben Jehiel Michael
Modern Orthodox Torah commentaries
Haemek Davar by Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin
1. The Chofetz Chaim
2. Torah Temimah of Baruch ha-Levi Epstein
3. Kerem HaTzvi, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber
4. Sefat Emet (Lips of Truth), Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger, 19th century Europe
5. The “Pentateuch and Haftaras” by Joseph H. Hertz
6. The Torah commentary of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
7. Nechama Leibowitz, a noted woman scholar
8. Ha-Ketav veha-Kabbalah by Rabbi Yaakov Zwi Meckelenburg
The Soncino Books of the Bible
Rashi 1040-1105 Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki (RAbbi SHlomo Itzhak = Rashi) was the outstanding Biblical commentator of the Middle Ages. He was born in Troyes, France. He is considered the “father” of all commentaries that followed on the Talmud and the Tanakh [TaNaKh =Torah (“Teaching”, also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”)].
Samson Raphael Hirsch 1808-1888 Hirsch was a German rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism, which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. His philosophy has had a considerable influence on the development of Orthodox Judaism.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com.