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Why does Ben Bag Bag's famous teaching about Torah (תורה) containing infinite wisdom appear in Aramaic rather than Hebrew? Aramaic represents the ability to see from multiple perspectives simultaneously, which Rabbi Zweig traces to Rivka's background among Arameans who understood others' viewpoints. True Torah study requires this Aramaic mode of constantly shifting perspectives to unlock new insights.
Rabbi Zweig begins by establishing a fundamental principle about Torah (תורה): it is not merely a book of laws but contains infinite wisdom that speaks to people at every age and stage of life. The same text delights both children and great scholars because Torah is the blueprint of creation, containing all of life's experiences and challenges. This leads to his main thesis: Torah is about living, not just rules. The shiur focuses on a puzzling observation from Rashi (רש"י)—why does Ben Bag Bag's famous teaching 'hafoch ba v'hafoch ba' (turn it over and turn it over) appear entirely in Aramaic when most Mishnayos are in Hebrew? Rabbi Zweig rejects the simple explanation that Aramaic was merely the spoken language of the time, noting that this would require most prayers to be in Aramaic rather than just select passages.
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Pirkei Avos 5:22 - Ben Bag Bag's teaching about Torah study
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