[Avodah] The Kuzari, vindicated

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Dec 04, 2007 at 07:31:22PM +0100, Arie Folger wrote:
: RRW wrote:
:> AISI Das Moshe is not intrinsically superior for the individual, it is for
:> Yisroel

: That is IMO a dangerous statement. Wouldn't that be music in the ears of some 
: New Age Jews, who would happily be more concerned with their private 
: spirituality and leave their peoplehood at the door.

Isn't RRW arguing the exact opposite? That the Torah is a national
covenant rather than a matter of private individuality?

Whereas I have been arguing that the beris in Shemos is with individuals,
and the national aspect is the second beris in Devarim. IOW, mitzvos
acheive personal redemption, AND creates a nation entrusted with bringing
redemption to the world.

I would not deny the role of a national covenant. I just can't fit much of
what I was taught to the notion that there is *only* a national covenant.
E.g. NhC ascribes the avos the ability to feel within their own souls
all 613 mitzvos. Not as part of a nation, but by feeling what they would
need to acheive sheleimus. If a person without a national covenant would
oly require the 7 mitzvos already given to Noach, what exactly is he
talking about?

I learned something similar to RRW's in RYLeibovitz's writings. That
mitzvos need not work for every individual because they are laws created
for a society. They therefore address norms.

I am uncomfortable with this idea. IMHO, mitzvos address that which
all have in common as the human condition. Things that are products of
personal variation are addressed by the more general directives of QTY
(qedushah, tov, yashar) mitzvos that each person must turn into particular
actions for themselves (with their rav's help).

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             A wise man is careful during the Purim banquet
micha at aishdas.org        about things most people don't watch even on
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Fax: (270) 514-1507                       - Rabbi Israel Salanter