01-15-2009, 04:22 AM
Shlama Akhi Otto,
Interesting question. I am reasonably certain that the real name is "Yehuda bar Yaqub" but that the nickname of Lewi Tawdi was inserted to make sure there was no confusion between him the other Yehuda, the traitor. That is also why Yochanan deals with this issue by an alternate method of saying simply, "not Skaryota". Lewi would also denote "my heart" (tawdi = thankful???) and may be meant to contrast with the traitor/coward of the other man with the same name. Ironically also the traitor is "the son of Shimon"--"he who hears"--and he obviously did not live up to that.
That's my guess...
Interesting question. I am reasonably certain that the real name is "Yehuda bar Yaqub" but that the nickname of Lewi Tawdi was inserted to make sure there was no confusion between him the other Yehuda, the traitor. That is also why Yochanan deals with this issue by an alternate method of saying simply, "not Skaryota". Lewi would also denote "my heart" (tawdi = thankful???) and may be meant to contrast with the traitor/coward of the other man with the same name. Ironically also the traitor is "the son of Shimon"--"he who hears"--and he obviously did not live up to that.
That's my guess...
Shlama w'burkate
Andrew Gabriel Roth
Andrew Gabriel Roth