<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/7/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Micha Berger</b> <<a href="mailto:micha@aishdas.org">micha@aishdas.org</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
On Thu, September 6, 2007 1:33 pm, R Eli Turkel wrote:<br>: On a more fundamental I disagree with the SR that there is such a<br>: concept as "knowledge of Torah without any contamination from<br>: external ideas".
<br>: Different poskim take the same gemara and come to opposite conclusions<br>: based on their own inner feelings or background.<br><br>I think we need to distinguish between "contamination" and perspective.<br>
<br><br>Tir'u baTov!<br>-mi<br><br><br></blockquote></div><br>Re: contamination it is bovious that most of Hazal were heavily influenced by the Greco-Roman culture prevalent in their day- especiallyin the Mishna. I would ventureto gues that they still could make Torah based decision even though subconsiously they may have recorded some Hellenistic concepts in their minds.
<br><br>Remember whn RSBY emerged rfrom the cave his Puritanical Torah lacked a semblance of tolerance and he was remonstrated for it. Perhaps his lack of general culture was an aspect of his purity.<br><br>There is a Midrash that Avarahm Avinu knew 600 Maschots of A"Z. Lich'ora knoweldge of exteranl cutlure was essential to his task.
<br><br>And any Sanhedrin that knows 70 foreign languages is likely to absorb some foreign Literature on the way <br><br>That said, it might not be legit to CONSIOUSLY base Halachic decisions
upon alien cultural norms - except insofar as a reactionary nature.
E.G because of what the Goyim may say we no longer do kefiyyas
Hamitta, etc. during Aveilus - clearly an external impetus for a law.
And Yayin nesech / Stam Yienam is limitted to Grape wine, although it MIGHT have been differn had ovdei A"Z used other kinds of wine,etc.r <br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Kesiva vaChasima Tova<br>Best Wishes for 5768,
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