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[Referring to the discussion between Rev. Drs. Guinsburg of Baltimore and
Mensor of Dublin, on the question: "Is the Talmud anti-social?"]
To the Editor of the Israelite:
In answer to the call of my most esteemed friend, the venerable Reverend
Dr. Guinsburg, through your valuable paper, No. 11, I can state that, in the thirty-five
years since the Talmud became the main branch of my studies, I never found in any of the
various editions of the Talmud the passage quoted by the Rev. Dr. Mensor, and I suppose
the matter of the case to be this:
There is to be seen in the ancient representation of Esculapius, who was
the best of the physicians, a serpent lying at his feet. Dr. Mensor by a mere mistake
split the head of the doctor and sent the serpent to hell, whereas the contrary is said in
the Talmud: "The best of doctors go to hell and the best of serpents smash their
heads" but both these sentences have been misunderstood. The first speaks relatively
to those considering themselves, and not G-d, as the best physicians, and the second is in
my opinion falsely read, and, instead of שבנחשים
(the best of serpents) should be read שבלחשים
(those who whisper)--those who cure sickness by whispering
certain [magic] words in the ear of the patient, as many at that time used to do. (See
Talmud Sabb. 14,4)
On this occasion, I can not help communicating to you another explanation
of the passage given me by an old Hasid, residing in our city [St. Louis]:
The ancient rabbis, he says, had foreseen that a time will come when there
will be no more rabbis; doctors will replace them. Only doctors and no rabbis will reign;
doctors who will cure the eyes, and leave the heart and soul sick, and in a burst of
passion and jealousy they scolded at these doctors, saying, "The best of the doctors
should go to hell".
Illowy
St. Louis, Mo., October 1, 1855.
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