Tearing Garments (קריעה) – An External Expression of an Internal Experience (02)
Last time, we learned a short narrative about the tragic passing of Ameimar’s grandson. There was some debate as to who exactly was tearing kriya, but either way the sugya assumed that the correct posture in which to tear kriya is while standing. It is also interesting to note that the idea of kriya itself seems to have a depth of meaning that is simply taken for granted throughout the Bavli. The Gemara now looks for a Biblical source for this idea that kriya must take place when standing.
|
Bavli, Moed Katan 20b Rami bar Ḥama said: From where is it derived that rending must be performed while standing? As it is stated: “Then Job arose, and tore his coat” (Job 1:20). |
מועד קטן דף כ: אמר רמי בר חמא: מנין לקריעה שהיא מעומד? שנאמר וַיָּקָם אִיּוֹב וַיִּקְרַע. |
In seeking a source for the obligation to tear while standing, the Gemara first looks to Job (Iyyov). The first chapter of the Book of Job is painful to read. My student, Liz Shayne, pointed out that perhaps turning to the tragic figure of Job was a way for Ameimar – whose story we read in the prior post – to express his grief. When the model for your own experience is Job, then you are signaling a particular kind of emotional turmoil. Job, a model of patience, piety and self-reflection, seems to suffer as a result of the Satan’s persuasion of God1. His cattle, sheep and camels are taken from him, and he finally tears kriya when he learns that his children have been taken as well. …