Kiddushin, Daf Ayin Aleph, Part 3

 

Introduction

Today s section is connected to yesterday s statement about genealogical information because it too talks about traditions that sages transmit once or twice every seven years.

 

אמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר ר’ יוחנן שם בן ארבע אותיות חכמים מוסרין אותו לתלמידיהן פעם אחת בשבוע ואמרי לה פעמים בשבוע

אמר רב נחמן בר יצחק מסתברא כמאן דאמר פעם אחת בשבוע דכתיב (שמות ג, טו) זה שמי לעולם לעלם כתיב

 

Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in the name of R. Yohanan: The [pronunciation of the Divine] Name of four letters, the Sages transmit it to their disciples once every seven years, and others say twice every seven years.

R. Nahman b. Yitzchak said: Reason supports the view that it was once every seven years, for it is written, This is my name for ever [le’olam] (Exodus 3:15) le’allem (to conceal) is written.

 

God s name, the Tetragrammaton has a certain pronunciation that is known only to the very few. The sages know how it is pronounced, but they transmit it only once or twice every seven years. R. Nahman b. Yitzchak connects this with a midrash on the way the world le olam is spelled, without the vav. Pronounced a different way, the meaning could be to conceal. God s name is meant to be concealed.

 

רבא סבר למידרשיה בפירקא א"ל ההוא סבא לעלם כתיב

 

Rava thought to expound upon it at the public sessions (parka). A certain old man said to him, le’allem (to conceal) is written.

 

What! Rava wanted to reveal it to everyone and some old man said two words to him and stopped him. Who was this old man? Why? Why? And Rava, pretty bold move, although he was certainly discouraged very easily.

רבי אבינא רמי כתיב (שמות ג, טו) זה שמי וכתיב (שמות ג, טו) זה זכרי אמר הקב"ה לא כשאני נכתב אני נקרא נכתב אני ביו"ד ה"י ונקרא באל"ף דל"ת

 

R. Avina contrasted [two verses]: It is written: this is my name and it is also written: and this is my remembrance ? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I am not called as I am written: I am written yod he, but I am read, alef dalet.

 

R. Avina contrasts the two parts of Exodus 3:15 as the source for why God s name is written one way and spelled another. This indeed can be very confusing. Especially those times when it is written with yod he, but pronounced Elohim. Those cases always throw me for a loop.