Irv Jacobs, MD

Irv Jacobs

Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis.  He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.

Bible’s account of Moses’ early life has antecedents

This parsha opens the Book of Exodus. It covers the development of enslavement of the Israelites, the early life of Moses, his escape to Midian and marriage there, his recruitment by God to lead the Israelites, and his earliest encounter with Pharaoh. I have chosen to pursue three passages, with regard to their originality in the Torah text. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

On bribes, rape, and wrestling with angels

This parasha tells the story of Jacob’s entourage returning back to Canaan from Haran; Jacob’s fear for, and the subsequent encounter with Esau; the rape of Dinah and its violent sequelae; the death of Rachel in childbirth; and finally the genealogy of Esau’s progeny. Three passages caught my attention, to explore for analogous comparison with other ancient nations. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Love at first sight, and other biblical phenomena

“And when Jacob saw Rachel,…and watered…(her) flock…Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and broke into tears.” This is an example of love at first sight. I wondered about existence  of this phenomenon in ancient times.  It is acknowledged to have commonly occurred, but the first well-recorded explanation comes from a story told by Aristophanes, described by Plato in The Symposium. [Irv Jacobs, M.D]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Religious misconceptions about women’s infertility

The idea of the barren woman caught my attention, as it occurs numerous times in the Tanakh.  I checked the internet for how the issue was handled by others in former times.  There is much on the topic, actually universally throughout history, and often in an unkind way toward the woman who doesn’t conceive. Commonly she was considered to have sinned. In the Fertile Crescent, because of its fertile land, there was a large focus also on the fertility of animals and women.  A near complete absence of true scientific knowledge prevailed.  Pregnancy was attributed to a gift from the gods, and its absence a punishment by gods. [By Irv Jacobs,MD]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Female beauty: Torah, mythology, and ancient history

The passage I have chosen to explore is offensive to modern sensibilities:  Genesis, Ch. 12, vv. 11-13  “As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are.  If the Egyptians see you, and think, She is his wife, they will kill me and let you live.  Please say that you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive thanks to you.'” Sarah was carried off by Pharoah’s officials, and placed in his harem.  According to the story, she was not violated, because of God’s intervention.

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles

Noah is one of the world’s many flood stories

Scholars think that a deluge of such cataclysmic proportions was unlikely in the setting of the Land of Israel, given its topography.  It is believed that relatively nearby Mesopotamia was a natural locale for the story.  In fact, cuneiform documents and archaeology provide testimony for periodic inundation of the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Torrential rains, tornadoes, and the melting of snows in the mountains of Anatolia, in combination, have periodically flooded the valley and turned it into a huge lake.  This area produced a number of flood stories in ancient times, including the Gilgamesh Epic. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Why does a week have seven days?

My curiosity is over the origin of the seven-day week.  Understandably days, years, and months are marked by astronomical events.  Days are measured by sunset to sunset, or dawn to dawn.  Years are derived from the annual cycle of the sun.  Months are derived from the 29 &1/2 day cycle of the moon, simplified via reduction to a unified 28 days per month, plus addition of leap years to periodically accommodate the growing overage of days. The seven-day week doesn’t apparently have an astronomical connection.  Historically, scholars have considered the week to be a Hebrew invention, derived from its creation story. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Pottery indicates some Israelites worshiped multiple deities

Moses, ‘following G-d’s orders,’ carves a second pair of tablets following which he receives additional orders regarding entrance to the promised land: Ch. 34: vv. 12-13 “Beware of making a covenant with the inhabitants…No, you must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down their sacred asherim).” [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Notes on Torah Reading for October 12, 2019

This parasha more or less recapitulates Chapter 31, but in a poetic form recited “by Moses” before they are to cross the Jordan to enter the promised land. After the poem, prose text tells the assembled Israelites, that Moses will ascend Mount Nebo, overlook the promised land from the east, and die there. With a new curiosity for biblical poetry, I have explored its elements as expounded by Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Tigay of the University of Pennsylvania in his commentary on Deuteronomy, published by the Jewish Publication Society (1996). (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Notes on Torah reading for October 5, 2019

This passage led me to explore whether other ancient conquerors also made such a claim that their gods marched with them. In exploring the internet, I found no such claims for other nations. There, in fact, is the story in II Kings 3:27 that King Mesha of Moab, about to suffer a military defeat, sacrificed his eldest son, followed by withdrawal of the appalled enemy.

The Internet did yield a review of the military mights of “10 of the Greatest Ancient Warrior Cultures…” Hereby I offer you a sample of their military actions. (To read more, please click on the headline).

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Notes on Torah reading for September 28, 2019

The thrust of this parasha is modeled after the format of an ancient covenant treaty. The scene is set in the Plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan, shortly before the death of Moses.  This is to be followed by entrance to the promised land under Joshua’s leadership.

A word about ancient covenants.  Unlike modern times wherein parties sign an arranged legal contract, the ancients performed ceremonies, characterized by proclamations, writings of the terms, proclamations of blessings and curses, erection of steles, and sacrifices.  Curses include acts that symbolized the fate of violators.  They would cut up the body of an animal, then the parties passed between the pieces, symbolizing what would happen to either if he/she violated the treaty.   

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion