[Avodah] Alei Shur: "Mussar is not hashkafa"

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 10:01 PM, Michael Kopinsky <mkopinsky at gmail.com>wrote:

> In Alei Shur, Chelek Beis, Maareches Hamussar Perek Aleph, Rav Wolbe goes
> through several things of what mussar is not. Mussar is not philosophy,
> mussar is not "Jewish thought", mussar is not
>

FWIW, Rav Gorelick would make remarks about current events in the news or in
the Yeshiva. And he would insist this is NOT Mussar but hashkafah.

Partially due to Re Micha's influence, I have been working on Midrashim
lately. Right now I am focused on Tana Devei Eliyahu. Loads of hashkafa
including a lot on ahavas yisroel. I guess a lot might be considered Mussar,
too.

I am also doing a bit of Shemiras Halshon Yomi and it is chock full of
Midrashim and some Aggadic passages. Seems to me as about 50% Haskafah at
least.

Often , the darshan starts with the conclusion, and searches around for
> sources for said conclusion.
>
> Saul Mashbaum
>

In Shemiras Halashon this is definitely the case. The author is a master at
arranging Miodrashim BY TOPIC. it kind of reminds me of what the Rambam did
for Halachah, he arrange the Talmud by topic. The Shemiras Halashon arranges
Midrashim to fit into a structure,. Very nicely done.

FWIW, Bialik's Sefer Aggadah tries to arrange Aggadah by subject.  Caveat: I
am told that he often paraphrases instead of quotes.

Maybe we can get authors to arrange  Midrashim by other topics as the
Shemiras Halashon did.   An Encylopedia Midrashit perhaps?





>

-- 
Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
see: http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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