Trust me on this. First
the Mishnah from the previous page:
MISHNAH. HE WHOM GENTILES, OR AN EVIL SPIRIT, HAVE
TAKEN OUT [BEYOND THE PERMITTED SABBATH LIMIT] HAS NO MORE THAN FOUR CUBITS [IN
WHICH TO MOVE].
This is, someone carried
against their will – by kidnappers, say, or by temporary insanity (!) – once
they are deposited safely have only a limited amount of space (4 cubits square)
in which to move until Shabbat ends.
On this notion of "evil
spirits" (still on the previous page, but we'll note it here):
Our Rabbis learned: Three things deprive a man of his
senses and of a knowledge of his creator, viz., idolaters, an evil spirit and
oppressive poverty.
In what respect could this matter? — In respect of
invoking heavenly mercy to be delivered from them.
Three kinds of person do not see the face of Gehenna (that
is, finds no comfort even in the thought that is suffering may be an atonement
for his sins!): [one who suffers from] oppressive poverty, one who is afflicted
with bowel diseases, and [one who is in the hands of] the government; and some
say: Also he who has a bad wife.
The "evil spirit" is not an outside entity - it is an existential experience!
As to this issue of
being “carried”:
IT ONCE HAPPENED THAT [SCHOLARS] WERE COMING FROM
BRINDISI AND WHILE THEIR SHIP WAS SAILING ON THE SEA, R. GAMALIEL AND R.
ELEAZAR. B. AZARIAH WALKED ABOUT THROUGHOUT ITS AREA, BUT R. JOSHUA AND R.
AKIBA DID NOT MOVE BEYOND FOUR CUBITS BECAUSE THEY DESIRED TO IMPOSE A
RESTRICTION UPON THEMSELVES.
Now, how did Gamaliel
and Eleazar justify walking more than 4 cubits?
R. Zera replied: Because the ship continually takes him
from the beginning of four cubits and puts him down at the end of the four
cubits.
Just like Einstein! From
the perspective of the person on the moving ship, they are walking on their own
power over many cubits. But from the perspective of an observer on shore, he is
being carried (against his will) a greater distance with each step and
therefore it is like being “kidnapped” and moved beyond his four cubits and
being given a new set of four cubits with each step!
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