Q&A: To Goshen to establish a yeshiva? What did they study in the yeshiva there? Bava Kamma hadn’t been invented yet, etc.
Originally published:
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To Goshen to establish a yeshiva? What did they study in the yeshiva there? Bava Kamma hadn’t been invented yet, etc.
Question
He sent ahead of him to Goshen to establish a “yeshiva”—what did they study in that yeshiva there? They still hadn’t invented Bava Kamma.
Answer
Before you ask what they studied there, ask whether there even was a yeshiva there. This is aggadic midrash. Besides, they could have studied ethics, the seven Noahide commandments, traditions from the Patriarchs (who kept the entire Torah up to and including the laws of eruv tavshilin, including Rabbi Akiva Eger on Bava Kamma).
From the holy talks of our master and rabbi, the crown of our head. The right pillar, the mighty hammer, etc., uprooter of mountains and grinding them against one another, the genius of our strength and glory, this great man, pious and abstinent, faithful servant, His Honor, Rabbi AI, may he live long and well. [Admit it, you haven’t heard praise like this in years.]
The Patriarchs studied Torah and kept the commandments even before the giving of the Torah. They observed the commandments through divine inspiration and inner recognition, though not always in the exact form in which the Torah was later given at Sinai.
A detailed explanation:
Observance of commandments before the giving of the Torah:
The Sages, the medieval authorities (Rishonim), and the later authorities (Acharonim) discussed at length the question of whether the Patriarchs observed the Torah before the giving of the Torah, and whether they were considered “Israel” or “Noahides.”
Observance through divine inspiration:
The Patriarchs observed commandments in accordance with spiritual and intuitive understanding, and at times also through divine revelation.
Differences between observance before and after the giving of the Torah:
Although the Patriarchs observed commandments, that observance was not always in accordance with the details of the commandments as they were interpreted after the giving of the Torah.
Examples of commandment observance:
The Patriarchs observed commandments connected to charity, hospitality, faith, and fear of Heaven.
Observance of certain specific commandments:
There are certain commandments that the Patriarchs observed only partially, or differently from the way they were observed after the giving of the Torah—for example, marriage to two sisters.
Observance of commandments in the Land of Israel:
There are differing opinions as to whether the Patriarchs observed commandments only in the Land of Israel or also outside it.
The words of Nachmanides and the Maharal:
Nachmanides and the Maharal discussed this question and offered different explanations regarding the extent of the Patriarchs’ observance of the commandments.
In the end, the holy Patriarchs served as an example and model in observing commandments and accepting the yoke of the kingdom of Heaven, even before the giving of the Torah.