[Avodah] halachic intuition

[Richard Wolpoe]

On 9/7/07, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:
>
> On Thu, September 6, 2007 1:33 pm, R Eli Turkel wrote:
> : On a more fundamental I disagree with the SR that there is such a
> : concept as "knowledge of Torah without any contamination from
> : external ideas".
> : Different poskim take the same gemara and come to opposite conclusions
> : based on their own inner feelings or background.
>
> I think we need to distinguish between "contamination" and perspective.
>
>
> Tir'u baTov!
> -mi
>
>
>
Re: contamination it is bovious that most of Hazal were heavily influenced
by the Greco-Roman culture prevalent in their day- especiallyin the Mishna.
I would ventureto gues that they still could make Torah based decision even
though subconsiously they may have  recorded some  Hellenistic concepts in
their  minds.

Remember whn RSBY emerged rfrom the cave his Puritanical Torah lacked a
semblance of tolerance and he was remonstrated for it.  Perhaps his lack of
general culture was an aspect of his purity.

There is a Midrash that Avarahm Avinu knew 600 Maschots of A"Z. Lich'ora
knoweldge of exteranl cutlure was essential to his task.

And any Sanhedrin that knows 70 foreign languages is likely to absorb some
foreign Literature on the way

That said, it might not be legit to CONSIOUSLY base Halachic decisions upon
alien cultural norms - except insofar as a reactionary nature. E.G because
of what the Goyim may say we no longer do kefiyyas Hamitta, etc. during
Aveilus - clearly an external impetus for a  law.  And Yayin nesech / Stam
Yienam  is limitted to Grape wine, although it MIGHT have been differn had
ovdei A"Z  used  other kinds of wine,etc.r


-- 
Kesiva vaChasima Tova
Best Wishes for 5768,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
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