[Avodah] pirkei avos v. chochma yevanit; see mekoros......

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Sep 03, 2009 at 11:50:37PM -0700, Harvey Benton wrote:
: 1. are pirkei avos considered by us to be halachot, or just good
: advice?  (and what were they considered to be in previous generations??)

See the Bartenura on Avos 1:1. He defines "pirqei avos" using "avos"
the same manner as "avos melakhah" -- categories that are logically
prior. IOW, leshitaso, Pirqei Avos presents the moral and conceptual
underpinnings upon which halakhah is based.

: 2. when it says in pirkei avos to "da ma she tashuv l'apikorus" how
: do we rank it in importance when it comes into conflict with the ban on
: learning chochma yevanit????

What's the substance of that ban? The Rambam's knowledge of chokhmah
Yevaneis clearly goes beyond rebutting it. And see comments on "Yaft
E-lokim leYefes".

See the Encyc Talmudit, "chokhmos chitzoniyos".

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Like a bird, man can reach undreamed-of
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