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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>From: "Chana Luntz" <A
href="mailto:chana@kolsassoon.org.uk">chana@kolsassoon.org.uk</A>:<BR><BR>>>And
then there are the "leap of genius" type teshuvos - ie where somebody
reinterprets or brings a gemora (or the Torah) or a line of rishonim that is
desperately compelling, but unheard of before. .... And yet these
seem to me to be the ones that are *most* difficult to put into any rule based
formulation, as they have a semi miraculous feel about them. And yet they
feel very situational - this particular scenario sparked this particular
reaction (including the assistance from above - ie was the particular help
*needed* here?). It<BR>is not guaranteed reproducable, even when the same
person writes other teshuvos (so what changes?). If anything it feels
closer to a master golfer (or other sportsman) getting his swing just
right. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>>>>>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Regarding the question of whether halacha is "reproducible" and
rule-based, you compared a master posek to a "master golfer getting his swing
just right." Possibly a better comparison would be to a scientist who is
trying to find a material with some exactly needed properties for an important
industrial application, or trying to find a new drug with some specified
properties, and -- using his knowledge and expertise, but also some trial and
error, and some serendipity (=hashgacha pratis) -- he discovers/invents an
amazing new product. There was nothing in the laws of science that
guaranteed that some day this product would be invented, but at the same time,
the production of this substance clearly followed the rules of
science.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><B>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============</B></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's new at <A title="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target="_blank">AOL.com</A> and <A title="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target="_blank">Make AOL Your Homepage</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>