[Avodah] Characterizing our era (Micha Berger)

Micha Berger micha at aishdas.org
Thu Mar 22 14:48:20 PDT 2012


On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 02:07:07PM +0200, Ezra Chwat wrote:
: As for The Shoah as a dividing line, this does not fit Rav Havlin's
: model. Nonetheless, a general observation can be raised. One need
: simply compare to the control group- the Sephardic poskim..

I actually agree, which is why I compared this shift to that between
geonim and rishonim. Leavning style changed, and there is a quantitative
treatment between geonim and rishonim, but rishonim didn't treat geonim
and qualitatively different than themselves.

Shifts that are viewed as qualitative changes also have authoritative
halachic texts in the same blurry region. After the SA+Mapah, all pesaq
is defined and justified based on how far it is from the SA. An acharon
can argue with the Greater SA, but only if they can muster sufficient
support. "Rishonim" then becomes a term for potential source of support;
"acharonim" for those from whom we expect such support.

But the end of the geonim had no mishnah, shas or SA.

I would bemoan a future in which they view our generation with hindsight
and decide that the MB, which only covers OC, is sufficient to qualify
as that new poseiq acharon.

But the massive relocation caused by the Shoah did cause a change in
learning style and quality.

-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             "'When Adar enters, we increase our joy'
micha at aishdas.org         'Joy is nothing but Torah.'
http://www.aishdas.org    'And whoever does more, he is praiseworthy.'"
Fax: (270) 514-1507                     - Rav Dovid Lifshitz zt"l



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