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Kamtza and Bar Kamtza

The Story of Tisha B’Av

Talmud, Gittin 55-56
It happened this way: A certain man had a friend named Kamtza and an enemy called Bar Kamtza. He once made a party and said to his servant, “Go and bring Kamtza” . . .

Reader Comments
Posted: Aug 2, 2006
Last point
First of all the article was so nice but I just want to add something to it. I read in Meam Loez that writes, Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakai indeed asked for saving whole generation, but Vespasian said, "I can't, because that's why I am chosen to be a king". Upon this answer Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakay said, "So give me Yavneh."
Posted By Jackie BARUH, Jerusalem, ISRAEL

Posted: Aug 2, 2006
maharsha+
Please read the Maharsh"a on the story of Kamtza Bar Kamtza and tell me if it doesn't add a whole new light!
Posted By Larson Amber, Boise, Idaho

Posted: Aug 7, 2008
Bar Kamtza caused Akiba scholarship to start
"Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Jerusalem was destroyed". - 1% manifestation is named "a cause" (by joke). "Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza" means not "why" but "how" it happened, which way.

Why the servant accidentally called Bar Kamtza instead of Kamtza?
There was a whole mountain already hanging over them, ready to fall.

"The Emperor dispatched Nero the Caesar against the Jews" -
- Did Nero really care enough about blemished calf to call it a jewish rebellion and dispatch an army?
"G-d desires to lay waste his House" means the spiritual reason to build it is gone.

The Zealots then rose up and burnt the stores of wheat and barley (so as to force the people to fight the Romans).
- this was a spiritual shortcut. Outside the unity of romans was stronger, so destructive impusle of Zealots went inside.
Posted By Gregory, Philadelphia, PA

Posted: Jan 17, 2009
Tisha B'av
Very informative and lucid story
Posted By Anonymous, NY, NY
via chabadforesthills.org

Posted: July 27, 2009
The party
Why was Bar Kamtza so nice but the others so mean.
Posted By Yossi, Brisbane, Australia

 


History
The First Temple
Expand The Second Temple
 The Second Temple
The Fall of Betar
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
When Was the Holy Temple Destroyed?

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