[Avodah] proofs of G-d

[Zev Sero]

Micha Berger wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 22, 2007 at 08:34:06PM +0200, Daniel Eidensohn wrote:
> : I find it strange that Rav Abramsky would assert that Rav Dessler
> : was an apikorus...
> 
> We seem bound to repeat this thread, even though one iteration
> (launched by the RNS ban) lasted for well over a year. So, to
> summarize my position as developed so far...

Here's another factor that wasn't mentioned in your summary: Litvaks,
of which Dayan Abramsky was one, have a tendency to use terms such as
"apikores" or "sheigetz" non-literally.  It is very possible -- indeed
likely -- that he would still accept such a person's testimony, drink
his wine, and treat him with respect in public, while regarding the
belief this person holds as very bad indeed.  (Can this relate back to
our recent discussion about non-literal uses of the terms "chayav" and
"tzedaka"?)

The chiddush of his statement -- whether it really was a psak or merely
a "psak" --  lies mostly in the fact that he was not a chossid, and
therefore could be automatically expected to take the Baal Shem Tov's
position as so muchrach that everybody must accept it, but in this case
he did.

As for the question of rishonim and acharonim and yeridas hadoros,
that model doesn't fit the Baal Shem Tov, whose rebbe was Achiyah
Hashiloni.

-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas