Tell me more ×
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

Who wrote the anonymous rationalist debunking of kabbalah entitled Tohar HaYichud?

share|improve this question
2  
Because the author doesn't want his name publicized in connection with the pamphlet. Pretty much the only way to know who the author is, is to know him personally, and people who know him tend to respect him too much to go against his wishes (even if they happen to disagree with the argument that he makes in the pamphlet). – LazerA Dec 19 '12 at 16:25
1  
@TorahTruth I believe that it incorrect and spurious. If the author is an idol worshipper or a heretic the validity of his arguments can and should be challenged on this basis (otherwise it is hard to see why Orthodoxy ignores most of the field of academic Jewish study). In any case, my question is not to debate this issue, just to ascertain the identity of the author – nikmasi Jan 3 at 15:34
1  
@nikmasi I think you're conflating identity with method or approach, as the latter would seem to be the main distinction between academic Jewish scholarship and more "traditional" forms of Torah learning. – Isaac Moses Jan 3 at 15:46
2  
@nikmasi I also think you're conflating Torah learning with pesak, as the identity and qualifications of the speaker matter much more in the latter, while in the former "kabel ha-emet mimi she-amerah" would seem to be more important, especially where there's no a priori evidence of the author's personal disqualification. Finally, I think it's ironic to claim, in a forum that values contributions from pseudonymous authors such as yourself, that arguments favoring same in another medium are spurious. – Isaac Moses Jan 3 at 15:47
1  
@IsaacMoses I don't want to debate this but, for example we see from the fact that only the great Rebbi Meir was able to learn even some torah from the heretic Acher, that we do take the author into consideration. To your other point, this forum may value it, Judaism itself clearly does not. Hard to bring geulah to the world with anonymous authors. – nikmasi Jan 3 at 15:53
show 26 more comments

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote
+25

I do not know who wrote Tohar HaYichud as it is written anonymously. However it is posted on the Mesora.org website which was founded by Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim and the board members are:

Rabbi Reuven Mann: Rabbi-Young Israel of Phoenix; Founder-Masoret Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies for Women, New York

Rabbi Pinchas Rosenthal: Exec. Dir. -Manhattan Jewish Experience, New York Former Principal/Teacher-Torah Academy of Suffolk County, New York

Jessie Fischbein: Jewish Studies teacher/Author, “Infertility in the Bible”

Rivka Olenick: Editor

Jonathan Herman: Contributor

There is a question from a reader regarding Tohar HaYichud which was responded to by Rabbi Saul Zucker.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.