[Avodah] Halivni's theology

[Moshe Feldman]

I originally wrote:
> Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Elman (who teaches Talmudic Criticism at Bernard
> Revel) accepts the notion that many of our texts have been corrupted
> or misinterpreted,
<snip>

I did not write the above accurately, and am therefore rewriting it as follows:

I took a course with Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Elman 15 years ago dealing with
academic Talmud studies.  In that course we discussed Talmud
criticism.  Dr. Elman, who does *not* subscribe to Halivni's theories
regarding misinterpretations and large-scale lapses in masorah,
noted that *even* *if* one were to accept the possibility that current
Halacha does not always reflect the intent of the Tannaim, this does
not necessarily undermine the Halachic process.  Rather, based on R.
Tzadok HaCohen, Dr. Elman suggested that *if* one does accept the
above possibility, it is possible that Hashem deliberately caused
these textual problems in order for Halacha to develop differently
over time than the way originally envisioned by the Tannaim.

Getting away from the issue of textual problems and moving over to the
more accepted notion that later authorities often reinterpret earlier
sources: R. Zadok held that reinterpretation is darkah shel torah, and
that Hashem stands behind that process in order to make eternal
halakhic principles relevant to the changing circumstances of time and
place.

 (Of course, it is quite possible that my 15 year old recollection is
inaccurate, and any mistakes are my own.)

Such a position works well according to the position of Rav Michael
Rosensweig that I discussed at
http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol06/v06n067.shtml#05 .

Kol tuv,
Moshe