[Avodah] Consumer Alert: Minhog Scams On The Rise!

[Micha Berger]

To answer RZS in an email I misplaced, near the beginning of his
haqdamah to Pereq Cheileq, the Rambam discusses three katim of people
WRT believing aggadic stories: The first think that all these stories
are meant literally, believe them, and thereby belittle the Torah. The
second kat think that all these stories are meant literally, find them
absurd and therefore ridicule the Torah. The third kat understand that
the rabbis were speaking in parable.

He has very harsh words for those who assume the historicity of these
stories. Other risnonim and acharonim also tell you not to -- for that
I again refer you to RDE's sefer and the excerpt at
<http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol16/v16n052.shtml#13>. R' Mechy Frankel
<http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol03/v03n152.shtml#06> quotes R' Sheirah
Gaon, R' Shemuael ben Chofni Gaon, R' Hai Gaon, and R' Shemuel
haNagid. You'll also find on list similar quotes from RSRH
<http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/faxes/hirschAgadaHebrew.pdf> and RYSalanter
<http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol15/v15n003.shtml#03>. But the Rambam
actually berates people who believe these fantastic stories.

This notion that no O Jew would question these stories is the effect
of O counter-reaction after R and C minimalism. It is still not an
impression you would get in some O communities, and in any case, not
the historically dominant position.

Much like the young universe... (Sorry RZL, I couldn't help myself!)

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             When one truly looks at everyone's good side,
micha at aishdas.org        others come to love him very naturally, and
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Fax: (270) 514-1507                        - Rabbi AY Kook