Comments on Rationalist Judaism: Los Angeles Lecture

Perhaps the title of the lecture would sound less ...

2009-07-20T17:20:01.972+03:00

Perhaps the title of the lecture would sound less divisive (as 'anonymous' thought it did) if the order was switched:
"Two Religions, One Judaism: Rationalism vs. Mysticism"

RNS: "Talmid - I attended Rav Moshe Shapiro's shiu...

2009-07-20T05:58:22.947+03:00

RNS: "Talmid - I attended Rav Moshe Shapiro's shiurim for several years and was very much into the mystical approach. Check out my book "Seasons of Life" from 11 years ago."

Ah...I should have guessed. You need to stop spending so much time with those Litvaks, and get to know some chassidut. ;-)

"(Rema and Shach there, based on Hagahos Asheiri, ...

2009-07-20T00:08:40.548+03:00

"(Rema and Shach there, based on Hagahos Asheiri, based on Yerushalmi on Acher's mother)."

What does that say about the Yerushalmi? (I can hear it now, the Yerushalmi was mystical, and the Bavli was rational. The Rambam paskens like the Yerushalmi over the Bavli.)

What does "two religions" mean? Are you prepared...

2009-07-19T16:46:22.129+03:00

What does "two religions" mean?

Are you prepared to do away with Halachah sourced to the non-rationalist Rishonim, such as

A woman eating treif (for Pikuach Nefesh) should not nurse a baby (Rema YD 81:7), explained by Shach there as creating a bad nature in the child.

A young child should not be allowed to eat treif - (Rema and Shach there, based on Hagahos Asheiri, based on Yerushalmi on Acher's mother).

Phoen7x - I would LOVE to return to South Africa -...

2009-07-19T07:33:19.956+03:00

Phoen7x - I would LOVE to return to South Africa - maybe you can find a shul/organization that would bring me?

Talmid - I attended Rav Moshe Shapiro's shiurim for several years and was very much into the mystical approach. Check out my book "Seasons of Life" from 11 years ago.

"Talmid, if you have any precise corrections that ...

2009-07-19T05:59:48.384+03:00

"Talmid, if you have any precise corrections that you would like to point out regarding your claim that I don't understand the mystical approach, I would be glad to hear them"

I think you need to find a teacher, or a chavrusa who actually espouses the "mystical" approach, and learn with them regularly for a year or two. This is the only way you will be able to appreciate it from the inside.

Or South Africa for that matter!

2009-07-18T19:45:09.198+03:00

Or South Africa for that matter!

Let me know when you speak in North Jersey!

2009-07-17T06:18:38.810+03:00

Let me know when you speak in North Jersey!

"I don't like recordings; I much prefer to put my ...

2009-07-15T23:20:30.455+03:00

"I don't like recordings; I much prefer to put my presentations in writing, whereby I can present my thoughts more accurately and with precise sources."

Why not do both?

Talmid, if you have any precise corrections that y...

2009-07-15T18:08:05.205+03:00

Talmid, if you have any precise corrections that you would like to point out regarding your claim that I don't understand the mystical approach, I would be glad to hear them.

Anonymous - this is not a divisive lecture. Those who attacked me delegitimized my approach; my goal is to legitimize both sides. Also, please comment using your real name or a pseudonym.

Simcha - it probably won't be recorded. I don't like recordings; I much prefer to put my presentations in writing, whereby I can present my thoughts more accurately and with precise sources.

Will it be recorded and posted to the web? I'd lov...

2009-07-15T14:59:50.235+03:00

Will it be recorded and posted to the web? I'd love to hear it.

Isn't a lecture with this title as divisive as the...

2009-07-15T10:57:07.799+03:00

Isn't a lecture with this title as divisive as the attacks against Rabbi Slifkin were?

Non Talmid (whatever that means): I have been stu...

2009-07-15T09:00:16.991+03:00

Non Talmid (whatever that means): I have been studying the writings of the majority of achronim who espouse the "mystical" approach for many years now, and am quite comfortable with it. I do not in any way begrudge R Slifkin his right to side with the minority.

I am simply pointing out that R Slifkin has not demonstrated very much understanding of the mystical approach. Just as someone with little understanding or appreciation of the Rambam's approach in MN would not be qualified to lecture on it, I am simply - and politely - pointing out the same regarding R Slifkin.

I must note that I find Non Talmid's comment to be...

2009-07-15T08:50:27.086+03:00

I must note that I find Non Talmid's comment to be next to incoherent (conceding that the Baal haBlog has just about said the same thing about some of mine :) ). Ins the rational approach "new" or "old as matan Torah"? How does this his explanation of the shiur negate the problem of someone of questionable authority on mysticism lecturing on it?

Why is "guilt" by association a credible point about Rav Elyashiv shlita? What is the point of asking someone who clearly is a proponent of a more mystical approach if he is comfortable with possible mystical influence in Rav Elyashiv's psak?

I dunno.

The lecture will be about the new rational approac...

2009-07-15T07:02:52.138+03:00

The lecture will be about the new rational approach, and why it's needed, and what are the downsides to the mystical approach. And of course why the Rational approach is as old as Matan Torah itself, and there were always two paths torah.

Therefore knowing about the mystical approach is irrelevant. Talmid, are you perfectly comfortable accepting psakim from Rav Eliyashiv considering his own grandfather was a severe mystic? Aren't you worried he may be paskening with the mystical approach, and not the rational one?

Bemichilat kevodcha, after reading this blog for q...

2009-07-15T04:10:48.683+03:00

Bemichilat kevodcha, after reading this blog for quite a while (and seeing your comments on Divrei Chaim), I don't think you are qualified to talk about the "mystical" approach. You have written very little that convinces me that you have really internalized what it actually entails.