By Tovia Preschel
Immersed completely in his work as editor of the “Talmudical Encyclopedia”, Rabbi Sh. Y. Zevin does not publish nowadays separate studies and essays on various rabbinical topics as frequently and regularly as he did in the past.
Yet whenever an essay of his appears, it evokes widespread interest and discussion. Betrand Russel said once: “Whenever a mathematical or philosophical writer expresses himself in unclear language, it is evidence that his ideas are confused.” This may be said of many a branch of knowledge. The brilliancy and lucidity of Rabbi Zevin’s style and exposition are not only due to his powerful pen, but in a larger measure to his marvelous grasp and penetration of all the details and intricacies of the subjects he treats of.
The recently arrive Sivan issue of the monthly, “Sinai”, edited by the aged but always literary agile Rabbi Y. I. Maimon, contains an essay by Rabbi Zevin on the number thirteen in Halacha and Aggada.
The Maharsha in his Hiddushe Aggadoth (Sabbath 119a, Taanith 25a, Nedarim 41a) had already drawn attention to the significance of the number of thirteen to Jewish law and lore. In his essay, Rabbi Zevin deals with different aspects of the occurrence of the number thirteen in Talmudic and rabbinic literature. As is his manner, he quotes in every instance a variety of speculations and observations by early and later authorities, and adds remarkable notes and ideas of his own.
May I mention here a few of the topics discussed in the essay: Bar Mitzva; the thirteen hermeneutical rules; G-‘d’s thirteen attributes of mercy; thirteen “covenants” mentioned in connection with the act of circumcision; thirteen materials used in the erection of the Mishkan; the number thirteen with regard to objects in the Temple, with regard to Zitzith, sacrifices; and fast days decreed in the event of a drought.
These are some of the topics discussed by Rabbi Zevin, and they suffice to convey to the reader an idea of the many aspects of the number thirteen, dealt with in masterly fashion, in the essay under review.
Most interesting is the chapter on the number thirteen used in Talmudical narratives not in a definitive sense but as an expression for a big quantity or for many. Rabbi Zevin details and discusses the instances in which early authorities had pointed out that the number thirteen mentioned there was “Lav Davka” or “Guzma”, or where it was to be taken literally.
May I be permitted to make mention here of a later writer, Mattityahu Strashun, who in his notes on Baba Bathra 8b, had drawn attention to additional instances in the Talmud where the number thirteen was probably used in a figurative sense.
Rabbi Zevin’s essay, which was obviously written on the occasion of the celebration of Israel’s Bar Mitzva, ends with a chapter on the final redemption, namely, with a discussion of the Talmudic saying (Baba Bathra 122a) that “in the future Eretz Israel would be divided among thirteen tribes”.
As all other articles and studies by Rabbi Zevin, this essay is not only informative, but also most stimulating. One is tempted to examine further the occurrence of the number thirteen in Talmudic and rabbinic literature, and not only of the number itself, but also of its multiples, such as thirty-nine Malkoth and thirty-nine Aboth Melacha.
Jewish Press
6/30/1961