For the past two weeks Benedict ARSo has been pounding away that he agrees with his Rebbe Shmei that Yaakov Avinu is alive because he follows Rashi’s Pshat
I think ARSo’s point was that he doesn’t follow any pshat about if Yaakov is physically alive or not. He doesn’t have an opinion about Yaakov’s death, and why should it make a difference to him anyways?
He is just quoting the opinions of Rashi vs Maharsha.
He has no reason to take a side.
I can say the same for myself. I don’t know if Yaakov is alive; who am I, a tiny ant, to put myself in between a machlokes of great rishonim?
What I DO know is what the rishonim themselves hold, and I will not accept anyone misinterpreting their opinions.
Which opinion is right?
אלו ואלו דברים אלקים חיים, תשבי יתרץ קושיות ואיבעיות