Torah Study Blog

With the High Holidays upon us, this is the time of year when many Jews take time to think about sin, atonement and repentance. Last week we discussed the ancient scholar Elisha ben Abuyah, a man born sometime before 70 C.E. Elisha was a revered scholar who fell off the path of righteousness when he chose to stop following the Torah commandments. And, he did not seek atonement for this transgression.

Even though Elisha was a heretic, his teachings were preserved in the Talmud. Because using a proper name is a form of respect for a well- earned reputation, the Rabbis sought to diminish Elisha by not using his proper name. Instead, Elisha is, in most cases in the Talmud, simply referred to as “The Other One.”

Another prominent rabbi recorded in the Talmud is Rabbi Meir. Meir was actually a student of Elisha, remaining so even after Elisha transgressed. The Talmud tells of a conversation between the two men where Meir tells Elisha that there is an opportunity for Elisha to repent and return to the fold. Elisha replies that he has heard the words of God, and God said that all rebellious children may return - except for Elisha (The Other).

It is noteworthy that Meir continued to meet with Elisha, even though Elisha was considered a heretic. Because Meir was concerned about the well- being of Elisha, Meir asked Elisha to repent. Although Elisha has continued to hear the words of God, God indicated that there is no redemption for Elisha.

Another account of Elisha and Meir together describes the men talking and traveling on shabbat. There is a rabbinic limit about how far a person is allowed to travel on shabbat. When Elisha noticed that they have ventured close to the outer limit, Elisha, expressed concern for his friend, and encouraged Meir to turn back. Although Elisha no longer kept the Law, he does not want to see his friend transgress. When Meir asked Elisa to turn back, too, Elisha reminded Meir that God told him it was too late.

When we pray at Yom Kippur, we are praying that God will forgive us for our sins (after first having made an effort to apologize to those we have wronged). These passages tell us that some people are beyond redemption. This suggests that God alone can decide who can repent; which is disappointing in light of Yom Kippur.

Maimonides lived in the middle ages and was a brilliant Jewish scholar. In an effort to streamline the rabbinic laws and make them more accessible to people, he created a comprehensive list. That list includes deeds for which you cannot repent and God will not forgive:

1. Leading the masses to sin.

2. Leading a colleague to sin.

3. Refraining from rebuking a child who is heading toward sin.

4. Trying to game the system by claiming you can sin all you want as long as you repent before you die.

And there is no atonement for five of the deeds:

1. Separating from the community.

2. Contradicting the words of the Sages.

3. Scoffing at a mitzvot (commandment).

4. Demeaning a teacher.

5. Refusing to accept admonishment, because admonishment leads to teshuvah (atonement).

Elisha separated himself from the community, contradicted that words of the Sages, and scoffed at the mitzvot (commandments). These are all clear violations, so it is no wonder that God told him he was ineligible to repent.

In another account recorded in the Talmud, but set at a later time, Elisha’s daughter had fallen on hard times and approached a rabbi to ask for food. Learning that she was the daughter of Elisha, he disparaged her. God immediately sent down a trail of fire that struck the bench the rabbi was sitting on, leading the rabbi to comment that God still protected the honor of Elisha.

Our final Talmudic passage for today compares Torah scholars to nuts. A nut may be soiled on the outside, that does not make the inside inedible. Similarly, a Torah scholar who has sinned, does not make the whole Torah repulsive. This is why Rabbi Meir can continue to learn from the heretic, the Other, Rabbi Elisha. To bring this to a more contemporary example, does that fact that the composer Richard Wagner was a vehement anti-Semite detract from his musical accomplishments?

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misquotes or misunderstandings in what Rabbi Jaech taught us are the responsibility of Tara Keiter