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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>From: Joseph Kaplan via Avodah
<avodah@lists.aishdas.org><BR><BR>"We must not tamper, not only with the
halachos,<BR><BR> but even with the chazakos, for the chazakos of
which chazal spoke<BR><BR> rest not upon transient psychological
behavioral patterns, but upon<BR><BR> permanent ontological
principles rooted in the very depth of the<BR><BR> human
personality, in the metaphysical human personality, which<BR><BR>
is as changeless as the heavens above."<BR><BR><BR><BR>Can anybody explain what
this really means? That is, explain it to someone<BR>who doesn't use the word
"ontological" in his/her normal speech. I have<BR>read it many many times
but I still don't understand what the Rav is saying.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Joseph
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
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<DIV>If you leave out the word "ontological" here the sentence is perfectly
clear: Human nature does not change. </DIV>
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<DIV>I'm sure you looked up the definition of "ontological" so no need to go
there. But in this paragraph, the word "ontological" serves a subliminal
purpose. Here it means, "Don't condescend to Orthodox Jews and do not
assume we are backwards, primitive, and ignorant. One can be
an intellectual and still believe the Torah is true and
eternal."</DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT><BR><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>--Toby
Katz<BR></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff>t613k@aol.com</FONT></STRONG><FONT lang=0
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