The Story of Nahum Ish Gamzu and the Poor Man in the Babylonian Talmud: The Compassionate Socially Aware Hasid

Abstract

Nahum Ish Gamzu is a colorful and revered character in the Babylonian Talmud. In one dramatic legend, as a result of an interaction with a poor man, Nahum decrees upon himself a disproportionate punishment: to have his arms and legs amputated and his body covered with boils. This article examines the various sources of the story, places the story in the context of similar stories in Talmudic discourse, and shows that the editors of the Talmud wished to present Nahum in contrast to Rav Ada, who had similar abilities but did not wish to prevent a house from collapsing. Nahum was compassionate and socially aware, in contrast to Rav Ada, who did not want to use his piety to help others. In drawing this contrast, the editors reworked the literary nucleus found in the Jerusalem Talmud, shaping the stories and placing them side by side so that the contrast between these two types of Hasid is clear.