Ruth b'Iyyun Series Siyyum

This is part of the ongoing Forest Hills Ruth Series, with the focus being on midrash. The rest of the material can be found here:

https://www.sefaria.org/groups/FHJC-Megillath-Ruth-Series

For this limmud, we are going to revisit a moment towards the very middle of the last chapter of Megillath Ruth.

Boaz had recently become next-in-line to redeem the entirety of the estate of his kinsman, Elimelekh, which would necessitate Boaz's taking Ruth the Moabite as his wife, as well as providing for Naomi, the deceased Elimelekh's widow.

Boaz had already made his intentions to Ruth clear; He is willing and able to step into this role.

We pick up with Boaz gathering witnesses to formally publicize these intentions, and to immediately act upon them:

Our very last midrash of this series will juxtapose the people's response in verse 11 above, with another statement attributed to Moses in Deuteronomy 28. So before reading the midrash, let's take a look at that verse:

Many of the midrashim which we've encountered seemed to be responding to some kind of a difficulty in the text, or a difficulty found elsewhere in TaNaKhic literature. I'm not so sure that that is what is going on here.

As you read through, consider - What do you think this midrash is responding to?

Any thoughts? What's really going on in this midrash?

(You probably already had some great ideas.

But if nothing came to mind; What might one do in order to start investigating further? (Hint: Think back to our Making of a Midrash Interlude. Where did we start looking, in order to understand more deeply what a midrash might be saying, or responding to?))

Take a look at the bigger context of Deuteronomy 28, to see if the surrounding verses shed any light on our question as to what's really going on in this midrash.

The context, like everything in Deuteronomy, is Moses very last grand charge to the Israelites before wishing them well and parting ways; Moses to his death at the ripe old age of 120, and the Israelites to be led by Joshua into the promised land.

I included the first 14 verses of the chapter - which is a lot to read! - but all of which are important for our purposes here.

Phew!

You probably noticed that some words and phrases above are highlighted. Do another skim through those highlighted parts. What do you start to notice?

Here's a question which should bring to the fore where I'm going with this: Think back on everything we've read from, and about the Megillah of Ruth. Remember that this is a story about blessings, about redemption, about land, about produce, about offspring, about loyalty; As I read through Moses's words above, I see overlap everywhere!

This is true even without taking the various midrashim that we've seen into account. But then with the help of midrash, this point is sharpened even more.

For example; Think back to when we were learning about the very first exchange between Ruth and Boaz in chapter 2. As far as we know from the story as we have it, this is the first statement ever said between the two of them:

Seems simple enough. Boaz is going out of his way to do all that he can to make Ruth feel welcome to glean as much as she ever needs from his property.

But how did the midrash read it? Do you remember?

Here is the midrash again, to jog your memory:

(We saw other midrashim which picked up on this very theme. Remember Naomi's instructions to Ruth before Ruth would spend her first night with Boaz? While the pshat was that Naomi was telling Ruth to wash and to beautify herself with kinds of make-up, the midrash read this as instructions to wash herself from the dirtiness of the idolatry of Moab, and to beautify herself by taking on the commandments of YHWH.)

When we read Megillath Ruth through this Rabbinic lens and we then read it in light of Deuteronomy 28, we are shown a case-study of what happens when a particular family of Judeans does exactly that which is required of them, fulfilling completely the injunction of 28:1 above, obeying YHWH and observing his commands.

What follows is that all of Moses's blessings will naturally be realized. We read about those who are loyal to each other, to the ways of YHWH, earnestly trying to do the right thing every step of the way; and what started with emptiness and tears (remember Naomi even became Mara) was replaced with the joy of complete redemption and abundant blessings.

Look up at Deuteronomy 28 once more. How many times does Moses repeat the word "bless," or "blessing?" Quite a bit, right? You'd think we would get the message after the fourth, or even the third time!

After you've double-checked your count, here's a question:

Does this number have significance in Megillath Ruth at all? (Hint - I probably would not ask if the answer were "no.")

Here is the very last paragraph of the megillah:

You'll notice that it takes ten generations to get from Perez, Judah's son, to David, the first king of Judah, and the founder of the dynasty from which prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zacharia would say our future redeemer, the Tzemach David, is bound to be from.

I love the idea that each successive generation that took the ancient Judeans ever closer to their most celebrated king corresponded to each blessing promised by Moses, each of which Naomi, Boaz, and Ruth ultimately experienced by merit of their wholly righteous and admirable acts. By the time we reach the end of the Megillah, we see that YHWH was watching from the very beginning, and no good deed went unrewarded.

May we follow in their footsteps, demonstrating the same unceasing love and loyalty, and may YHWH-Almighty shower us with only the greatest of blessings, as our ancestors taught us he did in the days of such heroes as Boaz, Ruth and Naomi long ago.

Hadran Prayer:

Barbara:

We will return to you, Megillath Ruth, and you will return to us; our mind is on you, Megillath Ruth, and your mind is on us; we will not forget you, Megillath Ruth, and you will not forget us.

May it be your will, our god, and the god of our fathers and mothers, that we should walk in the ways of the traditions of our ancestors.

Please help to make them sweet, Adonai our god, the words and teachings that we encounter in our literature. May they ever be in our mouths, and in the mouths of all of your people, the House of Israel. And may it be that we - all of us - our children and the children of your people the House of Israel - all know your name as we learn and take to heart your teachings.

Jerry:

We give thanks before you, Adonai our god, and the god of our fathers and mothers, for you gave us a share amongst those who have the opportunity to learn the literature we have so cherished since the days of our heroes, kings, priests and prophets of yore.

May it be your will, Adonai our god, that just as you have helped us to delve the depths of Megillath Ruth, so may you help us to continue to learn, and to teach, to observe and to enact and to fulfill, and live up to all of the words of the teachings and instructions with love.

And may the merit of all of the heroes, kings, priests, and prophets be present for us and for our descendants, ensuring that our love for you does not depart from us nor from our descendants for all eternity.

Hilda:

And may the following be fulfilled for us:

(Proverbs 6:22) "When you walk, it will lead you, when you lie down, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will speak with you."

(Proverbs 9:11) "For through me your days will be multiplied, and the years of your life will be increased."

(Proverbs 3:16) "Length of days is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor."

(Psalms 29:11) "Adonai will give strength to his nation, Adonai will bless his nation with peace."

Zita:

May your great name be made holier and greater, in this world that you are destined to renew and to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and your holy temple in its midst. And may you rule in majesty and splendor in our lives, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future! And say, Amen.

May his great name be blessed, forever and ever. Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored elevated and lauded be the name of the holy one, Blessed is he, above and beyond any blessings and hymns, praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen.

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.

Kaddish:

Bonnie:

May his great name be exalted and hallowed! Amen

In the world that he created according to his will, and may he give reign to his kingship; In your lifetimes, in your days, and in the lives of all of Israel, swiftly and soon, and say Amen! Amen! May his great name be blessed forever and ever!

Esther

May his name be blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, made mighty, upraised, and lauded; The name of the holy one, blessed be he! Blessed be he!

Above and beyond any blessing and song, praise, and consolation that are uttered throughout the world. And say amen! Amen!

Ron:

Upon all of Israel who cherishes the words of the prophets and the scribes of our people of yore, wherever they may be found; May we and they have abundant peace, grace, kindness, mercy, long life, ample nourishment, and salvation from our Father-Almighty. Amen! Amen!

May he who makes peace throughout all of the heavens, make peace upon us and for all of Israel! Amen! Amen!

עשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן