Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
In the realization of his second hope, the spread of the Torah, Ezra
was so zealous and efficient that it was justly said of him: "If Moses
had not anticipated him, Ezra would have received the Torah." (41) In a
sense he was, indeed, a second Moses. The Torah had fallen into neglect
and oblivion in his day, and he restored and re-established it in the
minds of his people. (42) It is due to him chiefly that it was divided
up into portions, to be read annually, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the
synagogues, (43) and he it was, likewise, who originated the idea of
re-writing the Pentateuch in "Assyrian" characters. (44) To further his
purpose still more, he ordered additional schools for children to be
established everywhere, though the old ones sufficed to satisfy the
demand. He thought the rivalry between the old and the new institutions
would redound to the benefit of the pupils. (45)
Ezra is the originator of institutions known as "the ten regulations of
Ezra." They are the following: 1. Readings from the Torah on Sabbath
afternoons. 2. Readings from the Torah on Mondays and Thursdays. 3.
Sessions of the court on Mondays and Thursdays. 4. To do laundry work
on Thursdays, not Fridays. 5. To eat garlic on Friday on account of its
salutary action. (46) 6. To bake bread early in the morning that it may
be ready for the poor whenever they ask for some. 7. Women are to cover
the lower parts of their bodies with a garment called Sinar. (47) 8.
Before taking a ritual bath, the hair is to be combed. 9. The ritual
bath prescribed for the unclean is to cover the case of one who desires
to offer prayer or study the law. (48) 10. Permission to peddlers to
sell cosmetics to women in the towns. (49)
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