[Avodah] D'rabanan vs. D'oraita

[Yitzhak Grossman]

On Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:48:20 -0400
Allen Gerstl <acgerstl at hotmail.com> wrote:

...

> Centuries later the positions of the Arizal and thereafter the Besht were widely adopted (see Rav Aharon Feldman's article at http://www.zootorah.com/controversy/ravaharon.html in which he controversially states that such has delegitimized the former position).

It is worth noting that Rav Levi Ibn Haviv, writing prior to Arizal and
Besht, apparently felt that the consensus of the non-rationalists had
already rendered the rationalist stance, at least on the question of
reincarnation, non-normative (Responsa, #8):

<Quote>

Regarding the third question that you asked, is the belief in
reincarnation something that everyone must necessarily believe? ...

Know that in my sins, I have not yet merited this wisdom, for a man
does not have permission to understand it on his own and to investigate
it, but it is according to its name [i.e. 'Kabbalah'], that he must
receive it from a Rav who himself has received it.  And in this era, in
our land, there are not found men who are that complete in it.

But in this specific point, I have already seen and understood from
books, and I have found that our scholars, those who followed the
sealing of the Talmud by many years, are divided into two factions:

The first faction is the faction that investigates the foundations of
beliefs exclusively according to their intellects, and they occupy
themselves with external wisdoms.  And in their hearts it is difficult
to believe this belief, since according to the intellect there are many
difficulties that their intellects have been unable to resolve.

But there is another faction, very great, of the believing sages of
Israel, and they have all written about [this belief] that it is a true
belief and a root among the roots of the Torah, to answer the question
of the righteous man who suffers.  And we are all obligated to accept
these latter words, and to believe this belief without any qualm or
doubt at all. ...

</Quote>

Note:  I am not stating any opinion on the issues of rationalism,
reincarnation, theodicy, and the very validity of the application of
the concept of normativity to beliefs.  I am merely making the point
that at least one major pre Arizal and Besht figure maintained an
unequivocal obligation to accept the non-rationalist view, at least on
the question of reincarnation.

Yitzhak
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