[Avodah] Humanoids Talmud Torah

[Meir Rabi]

   1. I believe we have a duty to accept the words rulings and ideas of the
   Torah as absolute truth.
   2. I think the Gemara you refer to is saying that people will learn with
   enthusiasm those topics that interest them. I don’t think the Mitzvah of TT
   is anything less than an obligation to know the entire Torah, even those
   parts that do not interest me very much or at all.
   3. RaMBaM advises/instructs us to study nature in order to know Gd;
   surely that would be TT.
      1. However, I urge that we take note that RaMBaM does not
      advise/instruct us to learn various Pessukim rhapsodising about nature in
      order to gain this awareness.
      2. Studying such matters is probably within the realm of TT
   4. I don’t understand however, how the speculation about humanoids (and
   other such matters) in any way contributes to a deeper more profound
   understanding of Gd; I doubt it is TT.
   5. I am reminded of a discussion with a young fellow who insisted he had
   had a religious spiritual experience – he had this remarkable experience at
   a concert of Guns and Roses. Is there any way to evaluate such an
   experience?
   6. There is an enormous difference between those things that can be
   expected to be verified and those matters that are entirely in the domain of
   speculation.
   7. As we mature there is no doubt in my mind that all our perceptions and
   thinking must mature.
   8. Is every single word in the Gemara TT?
      1. The talk about use of the bathroom
      2. Healthy lifestyles?
   9. I have no need to pencil out these pieces in the Gemara, nor all the
   French words in Rashi. I am quite happy with the Abravanel, Hirsch and
    Malbim.
   10. It is important to recognise that there is value to other peripheral
   aspects of Torah that are not TT in themselves but are nevertheless within
   the framework thinking and meaning of a Torah life.
   11. Thus someone may make an ambition of learning knowing and teaching
   the laws of Sukka, the rebellious son, Tumah and Tahara.
      1. We may quibble if making a study of the size of Kezayis is TT, I
      suspect it is not.
      2.
   12. The discussion of verses and MaAmerie Chazal, from my perspective is
   not necesssarily within the realm of Talmud Torah. By way of example, when
   Chazal have a “game” of suggesting various Pessukim to support various
   commonly held “street wisdoms” I suspect this is not TT.
   13. Reading the Torah, any verses in the Torah is certainly TT. That
   includes the Passuk Bereshis 6:4 which certainly sounds like it is talking
   about humanoids, or something to that effect.
      1. But I strongly suspect that our speculation about these things and
      the construction of mental and spiritual edifices which support
significant
      religious life perspectives; I am shaken and fear possible negative
      consequences.
      2. I similarly am concerned that these edifices are perceived to be an
      equivalent to Talmud study. As a consequence learning Gemara is no longer
      deemed to be valuable, critical and of core significance.


-- 

Best,

Meir G. Rabi
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