Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site acf4.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!cmcl2!acf4!axm9839 From: axm9839@acf4.UUCP (Asher Meth) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Acceptance of Isaiah Message-ID: <142@acf4.UUCP> Date: Mon, 26-Mar-84 20:07:54 EST Article-I.D.: acf4.142 Posted: Mon Mar 26 20:07:54 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 27-Mar-84 02:24:49 EST References: <141@acf4.UUCP>, <663@akgua.UUCP> Organization: New York University Lines: 85 Or leyom shelishi leparshas Tazria, 23 ADAR II 5744 ----------------- I've gotten some encouraging responses and some flack WRT my articles on the Isaiah matter. I include one of them here (found in an article posted to the net) and try to respond. Asher, Where pray tell is the proper place to deal with my questions on Hebrew ?? What better place than where a lot of Hebrew scholars gather?? Bob Brown {...pur-ee!inuxc!ihnp4!clyde!akgua!rjb} Bob also asked me about the Septuagint. As I commented in a previous article, I am not well versed enough in these matters to comment intelligently on them. Therefore, I deliberately did NOT write about them. I notice that Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo posted an article about the Septuagint. I include it here. I refrain from commenting on it, as I mentioned above. Currently, Jews recognize no authority in the Septuagint. The meaning of parthenos in Alexandrian Greek 2100 years ago is hardly certain. There is evidence that it had the same figurative connotations which maid has in current English and Maedchen has in current German. Neither word currently implies never having had sexual intercourse. As far as Bob's question of "where to deal with his questions ?? What better place than where a lot of Hebrew scholars gather ?? " , I respond : This net is NOT a place where a lot of Hebrew "scholars" gather - at least "scholars" in the subject material that Bob is interested in discussing. Maybe I'm wrong and there are great "scholars" out there who are really "on the ball" in these topics. If you are out there, send me mail to that effect. I, for one, certainly do not claim to be a scholar in these matters. The problem with discussing these matters on the net, among MANY people, is that everyone will see something that seems interesting, THINK that they know what they are talking about, add their two cents, and create havoc - because they are not WELL VERSED and are not speaking from a level of AUTHORITY in the subject matter. **************** A little knowledge can be VERY, VERY dangerous, especially in these matters. **************** If one is really interested in these matters, for the KNOWLEDGE and NOT for ANY ulterior motive (e.g., missionizing, trying to confuse the unknowledgeable Jew by "questioning" his beliefs), then, one should consult an Orthodox Jewish authority/scholar who REALLY KNOWS HIS STUFF (esp. in these matters). We Jews are not a people who proselytize / actively look for converts. If necessary, we will defend ourselves against those who come to confuse our brothers. We don't LOOK for such things at every opportunity. We don't ALL claim to be the ones who are capable of answering these "questions" someone may have. Thus, you must find someone who is recognized as being competent in the field before you start asking your "questions." You wouldn't go to a Pre-Med undergraduate and ask him/her to diagnose and treat a rare disease, would you ? --------------- It was this kind of a situation that prompted me in my FIRST response to an article on these matters to say that I have no wish or intention to get into long discussions on these matters and highly suggest that this forum not be used as such, because : for all those who wish to answer, "d'a mah shetoshiv" !!! if someone is not well versed (and I mean REALLY WELL VERSED) and tries to answer, they may cause more problems than the solutions they TRY to propose. -------------- Wow, that was some mouthful !!!! Asher Meth allegra!cmcl2!acf4!axm9839