Re: How to internalize the Eternal (JewishWorldReview)

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 06:16:50 +0000 (UTC), Tracy Hall <uce.dump@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
: "Jacob fixed the sin of the first man. He overcame death and became
: immortal."

: (1) How widely is this teaching accepted in Judaism?
: (2) In this context, what is meant by immortal?

1- It's pretty widely accepted in O circles, since the Talmud says "Jacob
our father did not die" in a number of places. But
2- It's obviously not literal immortality, since he probably would have
complained and startled the embalmer if he was still alive in Genesis
50:3. Probably also would have tald them to sop all the mourning (ibid)
and burial.

: "He achieved that which the first human being failed to achieve. G-d
: bestowed upon him the noble title of kel and thereby promoted him to
: the status of Divinity."

: (3) Is Jacob alone in having been "promoted . . . to the status of
: Divinity," or are there others to whom this applies?...

This is overstatement to the point of heresy. Jacob, by becoming Israel,
became the image of Man on the Divine "Throne" described in Ezekiel. We
don't belief in apotheosis of anyone, never mind asking how many.

:-)BBii!
-mi

--
Micha Berger Take time,
micha@xxxxxxxxxxx be exact,
http://www.aishdas.org unclutter the mind.
Fax: (270) 514-1507 - Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv, Alter of Kelm
.