midrashic views of Ruth and Orpah
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Ruth and Orpah, Abraham and Lot: The Power of Choices
Part 3
Dr. Yael Ziegler |Why are Chazal extremely critical of Orpa? Looking back at Lot’s separation from Avraham, we see that catastrophe followed Lot’s decision to live in cruel Sedom. Orpa, his descendant, returns to a corrupt and immoral society. Ruth chooses to return to Avraham’s path from which Lot broke away, and she becomes the vehicle to bring the Israelites back to the way of Avraham.
Lot's Separation from Abraham and Ruth's Return
Dr. Yael Zieglerתאריך פרסום: תשסט | |
The book of Shoftim ends on a dark and ominous note, describing an immoral and corrupt society that deserves destruction. Through the midrashic depictions of both Ruth and Orpah in Megillat Ruth, and comparison to the characters of Avraham and Lot in Genesis 13, Dr. Yael Ziegler explains that Ruth is the person who ultimately saves the Jewish nation from their corruption, single-handedly leading them into a better era. Using classical commentaries, Ziegler describes the path of morality and kindness depicted by Avraham, as opposed to Lot's cruel and immoral path. Ruth makes a conscious decision to return the nation from Lot's path, down which they had strayed throughout the book of Shoftim, back to Avraham's path of righteousness, thereby instilling modesty and kindness back into Am Yisrael.
Ruth: Paragon of Modesty?
Rabbi Moshe Shulmanתאריך פרסום: תשע"ו | |
Who or what is Ruth the Moabite? In this shiur, we examine the relationship between Boaz and Ruth. We look at two conflicting midrashic portrayals of Ruth, explore the deeper meaning, and analyze and challenge the midrash based on the pshat. Is her behavior that of cleverness, or of modesty? How does the “naar” or the foreman in the field of Boaz see Ruth? As we gain deeper insight to the mitzva of leket (gleaning), we discover another dimension of the difficulties Ruth faced as a stranger.