tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post2712037027890356271..comments2024-01-30T12:26:03.019-05:00Comments on The Blog of Garnel Ironheart: A Shabbos to RememberMighty Garnel Ironhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571194550300367249noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-20006486093215138532007-12-09T19:24:00.000-05:002007-12-09T19:24:00.000-05:00It goes beyond that though. The conclusions Rav S...It goes beyond that though. The conclusions Rav Sliffkin has reached by allowing such a strong influence from science and the secular historical record are disturbing to many people but they also raise a necessary challenge. If I am to believe in the truth of Torah and the truth is confronted by hard evidence to the contrary, I can do one of two things. I can stick my hands over my ears and say "nya, nya, can't hear you" (the Chareidi approach) or I can conduct my own research and see if I can answer the challenge. That is what is necessary to build strong faith in Torah that can withstand external challenges without confining oneself to a ghetto existence.<BR/>If I can't answer Rav Sliffkin's concerns, then how can I, as a rational thinking person, believe what I do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-52654137151931933692007-12-09T16:57:00.000-05:002007-12-09T16:57:00.000-05:00Sometimes the answer is in the process itself. On ...Sometimes the answer is in the process itself. On one hand we have the literal reading of the textual 5 Books of Moses. In addition, we have numerous midrashim,i.e. additional information from Torah she'b'al peh, which face the same dilemma (especially if one considers the words of Rambam). On the other hand, one has reality and the realm of thought. Reconciliation -- that is the world of Torah She'b'al Peh and that is what distinguishes Torah from fundamentalism. Our Torah text has contradictions - Hashem tells us to work it out. There are questions in how to connect Torah knowledge with information in the world - Hashem says work it out. That is because Hashem wants us to think. That is limud haTorah.<BR/><BR/>Taking science as the final voice. Taking literal readings as the final voice. Both are unacceptable to Torah. The real point is to be involved in the proces. Rav Moshe Sternbach, a leading Charedi dayan, stated in regard to Rav Slifkin that he disagrees with the latter's conclusions (that is to say it mildly). But that does not mean he actually understands Bereishit and there are still many questions. He though will live with the questions. While I do not think that Rav Slifkin crossed any lines, that does not mean I agree with his conclusions -- and I do agree with Garnel's problems. The key is to be involved in the process, to live in the questions and to accept the real directive of Hashem to be involved in the process.<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Ben HechtNishmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237299801109329429noreply@blogger.com