Salem Pearce May 2, 2013 Introduction to Talmud: Creative Writing Assignment Power of Words and Hevruta Study in the Buffyverse Source Text: The 144 episodes of the television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” created by Joss Whedon, aired from 1997 to 2003. The show tells the story of Buffy Summers, the latest in a long line of “vampire slayers,” young women who are given supernatural strength and called to battle vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Buffy is aided by her “Watcher” (who guides, teaches, and trains her) and a circle of loyal friends. The “Buffyverse” is the fictional universe in which “Buffy” and its spin-off, “Angel,” are set. אור Episodes Buffyverse קמד-Masoret Ha someone you'd never seen In the beit midrash, .(מתני') before. A vengeance demon OUR MISHNA pretending to be a guidance words can change worlds. If there is an unknown, counselor: I didn't know. But do not say, I wish. Do not say, These words were when you did not ,(בשם פלוני) Xander does know the said by so-and-so And do not say, I .(פלוני) consequences of a risky spell hear them from so-and-so (Bewitched, Bothered, and know this text, when you have not read all of the Bewildered S2 E16), so he is even if ,(וחכמים אומרים) either trying to evade words. And the sages say responsibility or he has forgotten: you have read all of the words. As it is written There are others in the world who can do Flooded S5 E4° ,(שנאמר) she too. Dawn, as much as Xander does: has the memory of what you did. You just don't want to meet them. his love spell gone awry: it is false. The memory of the love You Older and Far° ,(ת''ר) Our rabbis taught .(גמ') spell was given to her by the gemara monks when they created her Away S6 E14 [The Wish S3 made a wish to someone you'd never seen before?* unknown but (אחד אומר) E9] from Glory's key: what do you is unknown. You say know is a rhetorical question, but forgotten. When it (או אינו אלא) the “love” is because of the spell perhaps it's really I didn't know what was gonna Once More With° (כשהוא אומר) of the letterman's jacket. Dawn's says forgotten. What do I learn Feeling S6 E7 (הרי) feelings are actually as dubiously happen!, this is You made a wish to someone Older and Far° (מה אני מקיים) motivated as she thinks they are from unclear to Buffy: all the more you'd never seen before? That it is unknown. How Away S6 E14 so. In the first she doesn't know Although she too has the ?(הא כיצד) what she is doing and in the can this be second she doesn't know what is memory, it is false for her. Rabbi Chelbo said ,(אמר ר' חלבו אמר רב הונא) being done to her: Willow tried that Rabbi Chanina said someone you've never seen before so (מה) not to suffer her broken heart by just as casting a spell for her “will to be What do you know about our love?! Him S7 E6° (אף) too done” (Something Blue S4 E9) – someone you'd never seen ,(אמר אביי) so that she could end her pain – Abaye said (קל וחומר) which she initially thought didn't before is unknown – all the more so work but actually did all too what do you know. Rabba bar bar Chana said אמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר) well: that Rabbi Yochanan said to (נוח לו לאדם) it is better for someone ,(רבי יוחנן suffer a broken heart than to change the world with ,From Willow ?(מנ''ל) words. How is this derived Something Blue You have to go through S4 E9° ,(דכתיב) as it is written 1 one should not change (כשם ש) pain. Here this is the unknown the pain. Just as (כך) and not the action taken: don't the world with words intentionally so too Xander, Superstar S4 E17° ,(שנאמר) speak Latin. He didn't know unintentionally*, as it is said [Fear Itself S4 Latin and just pronounced the E4] words (librum incendere) but the don't speak Latin in front of the books. Could it be that she changed the world by accident? The (יכול) mere pronunciation ignited the Something Blue I will that this book S4 E9° :(ת''ל) book: in front of the books. Buffyverse teaches from the book: I will. Even speak its words to me. Master Zutra bar Tovya though her initial commands had said that Rav said – and some say that Rav no efficacy, she willed that they would. 17 minutes. From of a Chana bar Bizna said that Rabbi Shimon Chasida said – and some say that Rabbi (שנאמר) total of 44: as it is said is really written since no one Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ואמר מר זוטרא בר טוביה אמר רב ואמרי לה) spoke in this episode: the ben Yochai אמר חנה בר ביזנה אמר ר''ש חסירא ואמרי לה א''ר יוחנן .scream changed the world Buffy's scream kills the (נוח לו לאדם) it is better for someone (משום רש''י Gentlemen, who had taken the voice of everyone in Sunnydale: not to say anything at all than to change the world From ?(מנ''ל) exactly right again. Buffy only with words. How is this derived made the world as it had been “Hush,” in which there is only 17 minutes of and what's more ,(אמר רב) before the Gentlemen changed it, dialogue. Rav said and so no net change took place: what was uttered was exactly right, as it is (ועוד) I should have translated. Giles but the princess screamed once and Hush S4 E10° ,(שנאמר) didn't read the Gaelic inscription said The ?(הכי קאמר) underneath the picture of they all died. What does he mean רב פפא) Gachnar: Destroying the mark scream changed the world. Rav Papa said the scream made the world exactly right ,(אמר Buffy acted .כו' of Gachnar before Giles finished his sentence: this dimension. Giles' again. Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of א''ר יוחנן משום ר''ש בן) neglect only led to a Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai is acting on unknown text (גדול) greater ,(יוחאי misunderstanding about the not reading a text. That about this is said (מ) demon: other dimensions. than Buffy's impulse summoned the I should have translated, and and Fear, Itself S4 E4° ,(שזה נאמר בו) (שם) .demon: no weapon forged. Until Ibid Destroying the° ,(שזה נאמר בו) Xander realized that a rocket about this it is said launcher is not “forged” – and mark of Gachnar . is not one of them. And Rabbi is impulse and (זה) this ,(ור' אלעור ומר) therefore capable of killing the Elazor says :(לישנא אחרינא) is neglect. Another version (זהו) Judge – he continued to gain this this (הא במילי ד) strength and kill more and more this is through words about people: והא) dimension and this is through words about other dimensions. A tanna recites a (במילי ד תני) baraita before Rav Nachman bar Yitchak Everyone who is certain :(תנה קמיה דרב נחמן בר יצחק he spills (כאילו) in understanding of a text it is as if א''ל) blood. He said to him, you have spoken well as I have seen it, a certainty of ,(שפיר קא אמרת interpretation causing death. Abaye said to Rav What do those in ,(אמר ליה אבביי לרב דימי) Dimi Sunnydale most carefully avoid? He replied, being [Amends S3 certain about text*, because of °no weapon forged. Innocence S2 everyone E14 ,(דאמר רבי חנינא) E10] As Rabbi Chanina said comes back to life except four. Do you really 2 (אלא אימא) everyone? Rather, say (ס"ד) the one who is drowned. Buffy, think who was revived by Xander via everyone who dies does not come back to life CPR: the one who is killed on except four*, who die and come back to life. [Villians S6 E Acathla. Angel, who was The one who was :(אלו הן) returned from a hell dimension to These are they [20 earth by the powers-that-be: the drowned by the Master and the one who was killed one whose gift is death. Buffy, on Acathla and the one whose gift is death and the who was brought back to life by one who wore the amulet. But drowned is the :(לא קשיא) gift! This is not difficult (היינו) Willow via black magic: the one same as who wears the amulet. Spike, occurred via CPR and (הא) who was sent to Angel Because the former occurred via black magic. Rav (והא) Investigations as a ghost by the the latter אמר רב חננה בריה) powers-that-be: kick his ass. Chanina said that Rav Idi said (מה דכתיב) what can be derived from ,(דרב אידי Xander changes Willow's message to Buffy: You °Willow . she said to tell you . kick his ass? Becoming Part 2 remember. Buffy later uses his S2 E22 take care (לעולם יהא אדם) words (said in the name of That one should always ,(בשם פלוני) Willow) as evidence of his not to speak in the name of so-and-so did not say so. How so (פלוני) hypocrisy: he thereby ensured when so-and-so You remember giving Selfless S7 E5° ,(שנאמר) It is said ?(כיצד) not only the death of Angel, of whom he was jealous, but also me Willow's message: “Kick his ass?” Could it be the closing of the mouth of that he thereby ensured his death? The (יכול) Acathla, who, awakened, would Whatever I have to.* Becoming Part 2° :(ת''ל) The Gift S E] suck the world into hell: his Buffyverse teaches] Faith in the name of S2 E2 :(ת''ר) death.