tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27798951.post115025714292162737..comments2012-05-07T11:10:56.435+10:00Comments on Divrei ben Abuya: ELIJAH THE PROPHETUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27798951.post-1150586951301447082006-06-18T09:29:00.000+10:002006-06-18T09:29:00.000+10:00Thanks for that, Joel.I actually read an article v...Thanks for that, Joel.<BR/><BR/>I actually read an article very recently that also dealt with the issue of the fifth question / fifth son (perhaps linked on Hirhurim? I don't remember...) In any case, the author's argument was that the fifth question was asked in the same period during which the fifth cup of wine was drunk, ie: the period of the second temple's standing. I don't know whether or not this is true, but it does not seem to me to be an unreasonable argument.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the three links as well - I'll be sure to check them each out properly in turn. Elie Wiesel also made the point of an 'absent' fifth son, but his was a Holocaust-related theme and perhaps more rhetorical than anything else.<BR/><BR/>As for the Pesakh/Christmas thing, you can take my usage of the word "coincidence" in its more etymologically correct sense if you prefer. But I wasn't being facetious and the only reason for the two falling together is the date of Jesus' crucifiction. Shavuot and Sukkot were both possible candidates, from an historical perspective, so it really all comes down to dates. A religious Christian might see deeper symbolism within the issues of redemption, but deeper symbolism could have been found elsewhere as well.SFHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09549983078343070107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27798951.post-1150572468679130512006-06-18T05:27:00.000+10:002006-06-18T05:27:00.000+10:00The mishna also includes 5 questions in the ma nis...The mishna also includes 5 questions in the ma nishtana- the additional one referring to the manner of cooking the Paschal lamb.<BR/><BR/>This leads people to seek out a definition of a fifth son, albeit unmentioned. The nature of this son (and how we should relate to his potential existence without note) seems to depend on the rhetorical aims of the seeker: for example, see <A HREF="http://www.nyjtimes.com/Heritage/News/2006/April/Pesach.htm" REL="nofollow">1</A>, <A HREF="http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=116313" REL="nofollow">2</A>, <A HREF="http://www.lookstein.org/lessonplans/pesach_worksheet.pdf" REL="nofollow">3</A>. Some advocate leaving an empty chair- the Lubavitcher Rebbe rather advocated filling the chair with a child.<BR/><BR/>Some argue that with the establishment of the State of Israel, we should drink a fifth cup.<BR/><BR/>And I don't know if you were being facetious, but at least the Christians (and humanist anthropologists for different reasons) would claim there is good reason and no coincidence that Easter and Pesach tend to coincide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com