STANDING FOR THE ELDER OR THE ELDERLY?

and R. Yosi HaGalili, ends up deciding the Halakhah according to [ssi b. Yehudah.

If this were the end of the halakhic tale we would simply state that this is one more shining example of the rabbinic tenden to morality outweighing the theological need to make the rabb paramount to any other possible authority figure.® We would lea this verse feeling very satisfied, but we would be missing half th story.

MEDIEVAL COMMENTARIES AND CODES The medieval commentaries are not satisfied with this

solution, and each tries to come to grips with these divergen opinions.

In his commentary Nahmanides cites the divergent opinion| of the Sifre and the Talmud :

“You shall rise before the aged” possibly[one would think] even an elderly sinner(ashmai), therefore we learn[the verse continues] zaken. A zaken is only a scholar. This is the language of Rashi and the Sifra. And this is stated in the Talmud in tractate Kedushin: A zaken is only a scholar as it is said“Gather unto me seventy men from the Elders(miziknei) of Israel .” R. Yosi HaGalili says: An elder(zaken) is only one that acquired wisdom, as it states[Prov. 8:22]:“The Lord created me at the beginning of His course as the first of His works of old.” We can see

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