Friday, February 15, 2008

7a: Yesh Shiur?

I wonder about the motivation for the mahloket between Rabbi Yohanan and Resh Lakish on this amud. They are arguing about what does it mean that the re'ayon has no limit (from Mishna Peah 1:1). The positions of each sage is clarified at the end of th amud. For Rabbi Yohanan, appearing in the courtyard of the Temple (reiya) has no limit, but there is a limit as to how many offerings (olot re'iya) a person can bring (that being one offering per person). Resh Lakish, however, interprets the Mishna to mean that, to get credit for the mitzva of reiya, one must appear in the court with an offering (olot reiya), and the number of sacrifices (olot reiya) a person can bring is unlimited.

Though I don't see this in the gemara, Rabbi Yohanan's position could be for democratic reasons. Perhaps he is worried that people with greater economic means would keep offering animals and this would cause the poor to feel like their offering is inadequate. This could also lead to ostentatious displays of wealth as those with the means could keep doing the mitzva of reiya over and over again. His interpretation of the mishna as limiting the olot reiya to one, but the number of times one can simply appear in the Temple courtyard as infinite levels the playing field for everyone, regarding of economic status.

Though we may strive for the values I have attributed to Rabbi Yohanan's position, most of our communities are closer to the interpretation of Resh Lakish. Do we say yesh shiur to b'nai mitzva celebrations or do they fall under the category of ein shiur as well? What about weddings and other simhas? How do we make people feel like mitzvot that involve celebrations are worth just as much regardless of the size of the party?

1 comment:

M. Liben said...

This is such a nice insight.
Perhaps the original source for Ramah's "stuff campaign?"