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Does it say a Jew was studying with that gentile?
And the proper translation is not "is equal" but "is like."
"Like" begs the question "In what way?"
And, furthermore, the High Priest in question is completely uneducated.
Since there is no greater status than having Torah wisdom, even a non-Jew who knows something has advantages even over a High Priest who knows nothing.

"I didn't see anything about the High Priest being uneducated..."

That's because it's not a text book.
It's the Talmud.

It's specifically designed NOT to be understood by just reading it.

That's why there was no mention if the Priest was educated or not.
Or if the non-Jew was converted or not.
Or if the non-Jew was taught or not.
Or if it's just regarding his 7 mitsvos or not.
Or in what way they are like each other
And the next statement says the source is "A man who does..."
Not a man who "learns."
So sounds like learning never was the issue at all!


See.
Not a text book.

I clearly wasn't saying "It was saying..."

By 6 lines of questions I was clearly saying "We don't know what it is saying."

By "it's not a text book... It's specifically designed NOT to be understood by just reading it."
I was clearly saying "We don't know what it is saying."

By "See. Not a text book." I was clearly saying "We don't know what it is saying."

Of course it's open to misinterpretation because it's not a text book.
It's the Talmud.
It's specifically designed NOT to be understood by just reading it.

It's a private letter between G-d and His chosen people and a non-family member who reads it will see words they have their OWN references for but will not understand it as it was meant be understood by those within the family, who've lived the history and know the inside story.

Ah! That we are in agreement with.
But I did want to explain the confusion, without being rude, and I still posited 3 possible answers along the way.



Happy and healthy New Year to all!
Signing off for 5768,
RD

Good soundbites.
Glad you asked!

Allow me to shed a little light on the situation. [Pun intended.]

"In Jeremiah 16 it states that the Gentiles will seek you out because they see the truth in you...If you are not allowed to study with...."

This verse is not referring to learning partnerships between Jew and gentile. Our being searched out for seeing the truth in us has to do with our character and behavior being aligned with G-d's will. Not bowing to societal and peer pressures which are contrary to G-d's will. Not giving in to internal pressures which are contrary to G-d's will. Not being politically correct when political correctness is nonsensical, if not false altogether.

Jews who stand for and live for and reflect Torah principles are the light unto the nations. [The Madoff's are obviously not included in this category.]



"If you are not willing to open your heart to them..."

a) "not willing to open your heart" is grossly over-dramatic for the conversation that took place in the above posts.
b) Being a "light" does not obligate us to any and every request that comes our way.
c) G-d is actually the One Who tells us what information we can share and what we can't.

So, in line with all of the above, our Talmud, which is our Oral Law is not for public dissemination. Because of the Jewishly uneducated state of most of American Jewry, a number of individuals took it upon themselves to make translated works available for their Jewish brethren which certainly makes that same information available to others. What price we'll pay for that we have yet to see.

At this point in time, just because a non-Jew gets his/her hands on a translation of a line in the Talmud, that still does not obligate us to give him/her a lesson on every question they have.


"G-d has called you to be a nation of priests to all people."

And even though I said it before, I have a feeling it can't be said enough times, G-d is the One Who tells us what we can and can not teach to non-Jews.
The 24 books of the Torah are public. [And you can see what the world has done with them!]
The books of the Oral Law are personal and private.



"I am not to question him [G-d] but trust he knows more than I ever could learn.

Great! So you understand and won't question what He says we can and can't teach. I don't either.


You hopefully can also understand [regarding your last sound bite] that, yes, Ruth was a Gentile and she was "MARRIED" to a Jew. So while our tradition does debate at which point she converted, being married to a Jew makes her situation NOT like the situation here and the reference to her is irrelevant and does not support your argument here.


ALLLLLLLLLLLL THIS ASIDE..........

If anyone actually READS the above posts I DID answer the question!!!
I also offered a half dozen variables which were all questions but they gave MORE possible understandings to the statement in question!!!!

I said this also at that time. Maybe now it will be understood.

If the questioner didn't get that, didn't think about that, or just didn't like that, well, I can't help that.
But don't come here beefing that I never answered or that nothing was said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you for the opportunity to clear the air on that.