At the outset of this question I would like to make it clear that I'm not taking sides on whether we should or should not believe the Rambam's (or others) statements. I am talking about contemporary Orthodox Judaism as whole. It seems to me that there are a number fairly extreme "issues" that general contemporary Orthodoxy has with the Rambam, which include but are not limited to his seeming disdain for all things metaphysical(i.e. segulot, amulets, magic etc.), but at the end of day a large portion of our current halachic reality is based on the Rambam's opinions. My question is how do we deal with this dissonance ? It gives the appearance of "picking and choosing" which is not the Jewish way as far as I know.
asked Jun 2, 2020 at 5:59
-
1At first, I thought you were referring to Rambam's acceptance of certain scientific views that have since been proven to be wrong. After skimming the article, I see that your question is really: how can a rabbi's halachic views be accepted when simultaneously, his, or some of his, hashkafic views are denied? This is a question that isn't unique to the Rambam's situation.– Harel13Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 6:46
-
I'm aware, I believe the Ralbag has similar issues. I chose the Rambam because I believe he's amongst the biggest "players" in contemporary halacha and he is HIGHLY contentious simultaneously(which may be, because of his halachic clout).– Alexander MermelsteinCommented Jun 2, 2020 at 6:55
-
Oh, I meant far beyond famous Rishonim. Random example - many Sephardim follow Rav Ovadia zt"l's psakim, including Zionist Sephardim, despite the fact that they disagree with him on hashkafic and/or political matters.– Harel13Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 7:31
-
1Where do you get the idea that "picking and choosing" is "not the Jewish way"? The posekim, and occasionally even the Gemara itself, do that all the time: the halachah is like Rabbi X in case A, but like Rabbi Y in case B. As long as case A and case B aren't directly related, there's no issue with that.– MeirCommented Jun 2, 2020 at 14:51
-
1The question would be clearer if you listed the ideas from the article you linked directly in your question. Forcing readers to skim through another article is not efficient nor likely to give you the best answers– mblochCommented Jun 3, 2020 at 3:21
|
Show 3 more comments
2 Answers
TL;DR In those days, the attitude of philosophers was not to intertwine philosophy with obedience to the law. Therefore, there was never a need to disavow the non-philosophical works.
Nowadays, when someone makes a philosophical statement that doesn't fit with the common narrative, he is labeled a heretic and his teachings are banned. In the old days, given the same situation, the works in question were labeled heretical and banned if deemed necessary, while the other works were addressed for what they were.
Why? There was an assumption of decency of character where philosophical ideas did not permeate the writer to the extent that every idea he had was influenced by his philosophy. So his understanding of the laws of Shabbos from the Talmud per say, were not influenced by his understanding of the nature of witchcraft, for example.
What changed? Well, the Rambam while opining the ridiculousness of brief in witchcraft, still never said and therefore the laws concerning witchcraft are null and void. An attitude such as this shows his respect for the Torah and its laws.
In the pre-modern era, it became commonplace for many thinkers to point to things they believed were proven wrong or obviously incorrect, and used that to obviate mitzvos. In many situations that attitude spread even to mitzvos that had nothing to do with the subject at hand. That is why bans on people, rather than particular works, became popular.
We cannot use the standards of the modern era, to ban people, and wonder why those standards weren't used in previous times when attitudes from all camps were different.
-
Separating philosophy from legal positions continues to this day when there is respect. Look at Chasidim vs Mitnagdim, Zionists vs. Anti-Zionists, etc. Only in the extreme right of the very recent Charedim are highly respected classical Orthodox rabbis like R' Kook actually censored.– Double AA ♦Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 13:07
-
So the basic premise is that the philosophical and halachic were independent of each other, so the veracity of one didn't effect the veracity of the other? Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 13:19
-
@Double I agree it does exist. But the bans on the people happen because it doesn't exist exclusively. Leading banners to be suspect of anything. Do you know there is a major yeshiva in America that won't stock sefarim on its shelves from living individuals as they are afraid the writer may go off the path? A friend of mine who learned there said Rav Shturnbach was the exception to that rule. (This is as of a few decades ago. I don't know what they do now)– user6591Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 13:24
-
@Alexander Yes. But a main point is the belief that they were separated whereas for the past few hundred years that separation cannot be assumed.– user6591Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 13:26
-
1We unfortunately don't live in an age that much values respecting other opinions :(– Double AA ♦Commented Jun 2, 2020 at 14:10
I think that the article linked to is rather exaggerated - not so much in its portrayal of the Rambam but more in its description of today's consensus.
While it is undeniable that commonly accepted mystical cliches may have made the Rambam turn green, the extent to which people take these (essentially empty) statements is severely exaggerated. Most of us are rationalists even if we may deny it - when we are ill we go to the doctor (rather than just davening or getting a brocho), we don't pay any attention to astrology and we don't just rely on Hashem to feed us. Most of those who go in pilgrimages to Meron and such like do it for the experience and not because they genuinely think that this is an expression of Avodas Hashem.
If anything, it is in halacha that we follow the Rambam least.
