RCW

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	2,717 reputation	bio	website		visits	member for	2 years, 10 months
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Feb 24	comment	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? Thank you. I enjoyed this approach. I gave my own answer below that is similar to your approach, but I added to it.
Feb 24	answered	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born?
Feb 24	answered	How did Vashti grow a tail?
Feb 24	comment	How did Vashti grow a tail? Thank you for sharing those thoughts. My challenge is that when you have two positions in the Gemara, they usually are two different conceptual positions. The way you have described it, they are both the same explanation, her beauty was marred by either a tail or skin affliction. I would think it should be two distinct idea, not just an argument over facts.
Feb 22	asked	How did Vashti grow a tail?
Jan 16	comment	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? @Shraga With regard to your comments on thinking for oneself I understand your point.However, I think at times that approach can be taken to an extreme. We must always be careful to be grounded in Torah and our sources. They are the bedrock of our Mesorah. However, one has to be able to be Mechadesh as well. The Torah was given to Man to use his mind to understand it. See the Ibn Ezra on Shemot 20:2. He clearly articulates the need for thoughtful analysis and using ones own mind to understand an area. Certainly our first approach is to see what our Chachamim say, but then it is left to us.
Jan 16	comment	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? @Shraga I hear your question. However, I think that is a different question than I am focusing on. A possible answer for the Rambam might be that Hashem made it happen that way. Hashem thwarted their very predictions, showing that the only true power is Hashem. Maybe it is a Midah Kneged Mida thing. Showing Hashem's involvement. I am not certain of this idea, but it is a different issue than the one I am raising. Assuming according to the Rambam Astrology is fake, what would be the reasoning for the Astrologers for suggesting what they did?
Jan 15	comment	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? @KinnardHockenhull Thank you for your question for clarification. I was referring to the typical supernatural or divine power of prediction often attributed to the astrologers. What I was exploring, is if they had some intelligent plan in making this prediction to Pharoah.
Jan 15	revised	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? I was asked to include a source.
Jan 15	comment	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? @Shraga Thank you for your question. I always grapple with this issue of providing sources versus thinking for oneself. However, since you asked I will respond with a source that supports my premise. I will add the source above in the question.
Jan 15	comment	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born? @SethJ Hmm. Thank you for the thoughts. Why would they consider their wizardry to work if they saw that it didn't work. If Hashem did cause a miracle in this instance, how would they know that? Wouldn't they just consider it to be the same as previous tries. Furthermore, if in fact it was a miracle, shouldn't this be reported in the Torah? This is a very interesting area, with lots of questions.
Jan 15	asked	Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born?
Jan 15	revised	Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues? edited tags
Jan 15	comment	Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues? Where is the Sforno that you are referring to? Furthermore, if you look ahead at the other plagues (See Shemot 8:13 by Kinim) he used the staff.
Jan 15	comment	Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos? Can you clarify how on one hand "Hashem doesn't lack anything", yet we are in some way benefitting him?
Jan 15	comment	Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos? @msh210 Thank you for referencing that question.
Jan 15	comment	Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos? @DoubleAA Good question. Allways important to define your terms. I guess I was keeping it open ended to see the responses. Perhaps benefit could be to in some way to add to or provide something to God. Typically people imagine an emotional or material gain. What that would look like for God would be difficult to even suggest.
Jan 15	answered	Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Jan 15	asked	Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Jan 15	comment	Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues? interesting thought. I wonder is there is a clue to the staffs function in that Medrash.