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I wanted to clarify my application of the quote from the Torah Temima in my theory. The Torah Temima actually argues that for those who believe that shituf is allowed for non-Jews, the dialogue between Naomi and Ruth would make sense. With Elokayich Elokay, Ruth is stating that she understands that becoming Jewish will change the rules of idolatry and they will apply to her in that shituf will now be forbidden.
ReplyDeleteAs for those who maintain that shituf is prohibited also for non-Jews, the question remains. Torah Temima offers, though, another possibility in that, accorrding to those that maintain this view, Naomi's specific mention of idolatry may just have been a result of a view that idolatry is much more intertwined in the being of a non-Jew. As such, she wanted to make it clear to Ruth that the prohibition of idolatry is very serious especially to a Jew.
What I was trying to offer was actually a third perception that, to some extent, combined these two perspectives as well. All I was doing was, without presenting the exact details, present the idea of a qualitative distinction between Jew and non-Jew beyond the number of mitzvot. The Jewish relationship and Jewish view of the One God is different. Naomi is telling Ruth that by becoming Jewish it is not only that she will now have to follow more commands. There is also a qualitative shift in the connection to God.
In regard to this issue, please also see Rabbi Wolpoe's Nishma Blog post at
ReplyDeletehttp://nishmablog.blogspot.com/2010/05/shavuot-yitro-and-ruth.html