23.3.20
everything that goes on in the religious world is invalid. So while on one hand, there is a point about Fear of God and Learning Torah and Musar. But you do not want your efforts side tracked.
When one adds to a commandment that has an amount then the fulfillment commandment is nullified. That is to everyone. But lets say one takes of the addition? Then does the first one remain valid?
See Rav Shach in the start of Laws of the Blue Thread [Tzitzit]. [That comes from a paragraph in the Book of Numbers].
To Rashi and Tosphot and the Raavad -if one has added another blue thread to his four cornered garment (which transgresses the command, "Do not add nor subtract from these commandments") Then obviously he can not wear the garment. However what happens if he cuts off the extra one? To Rashi and Tosphot it is OK. To the Rambam the adding makes it all invalid.
This shows that pretty much everything that goes on in the religious world is invalid. because of the constant adding to the commandments, the result is that nothing they do is valid. The adding nullifying even what might have otherwise been acceptable.
So what I do is to avoid the religious completely. I figure I can not tell who really is a Torah scholar that is a demon as Rav Nahman warned us about. So I simply avoid them all.
See Rav Shach in the start of Laws of the Blue Thread [Tzitzit]. [That comes from a paragraph in the Book of Numbers].
To Rashi and Tosphot and the Raavad -if one has added another blue thread to his four cornered garment (which transgresses the command, "Do not add nor subtract from these commandments") Then obviously he can not wear the garment. However what happens if he cuts off the extra one? To Rashi and Tosphot it is OK. To the Rambam the adding makes it all invalid.
This shows that pretty much everything that goes on in the religious world is invalid. because of the constant adding to the commandments, the result is that nothing they do is valid. The adding nullifying even what might have otherwise been acceptable.
So what I do is to avoid the religious completely. I figure I can not tell who really is a Torah scholar that is a demon as Rav Nahman warned us about. So I simply avoid them all.
22.3.20
What counts as metaphysics?
What counts as metaphysics that the rishonim [mediaeval authorities] emphasized learning?
At least we can see right on the first page of the important and first book of Musar, The Obligations of the Heart. He is referring to Aristotle and the Muslim commentaries. Al Kindi and Al Farabi. But we can also see his actual system of metaphysics in the first section which is Neo-Platonic. [So he is including the Neo Platonic, Plotinus]
This approach is certainly based on Saadia Gaon.
So the question is what about Kant? After all these same rishonim also emphasis learning Physics. So we would not say everyone ought to learn the Physics of Aristotle. We understand the discipline has made advancement. So can we say the same about philosophy? Well on one hand Philosophy has not made linear advancement since Aristotle. And so Aristotle and Plato would still be necessary to learn. But on the other hand there has been some progress. But other issues have come up. So I would add Kant, Leonard Nelson, Hegel, Thomas Reid [the philosopher of common sense].
At least we can see right on the first page of the important and first book of Musar, The Obligations of the Heart. He is referring to Aristotle and the Muslim commentaries. Al Kindi and Al Farabi. But we can also see his actual system of metaphysics in the first section which is Neo-Platonic. [So he is including the Neo Platonic, Plotinus]
This approach is certainly based on Saadia Gaon.
So the question is what about Kant? After all these same rishonim also emphasis learning Physics. So we would not say everyone ought to learn the Physics of Aristotle. We understand the discipline has made advancement. So can we say the same about philosophy? Well on one hand Philosophy has not made linear advancement since Aristotle. And so Aristotle and Plato would still be necessary to learn. But on the other hand there has been some progress. But other issues have come up. So I would add Kant, Leonard Nelson, Hegel, Thomas Reid [the philosopher of common sense].
In Rav Shach's Avi Ezri Laws of Tzitzit chapter 1, law 15 is brought this fact that if one has a garment with four corners and puts in the four blue threads but then adds another then the previous four are also nullified. That is when the Torah gives a commandment that has a certain amount and one adds to that amount then the entire fulfillment of that command is nullified.
[This would tend to show that religious fanaticism does not help in terms of keeping Torah. ]
There are on the other hand certain commandments that have no upper or lower limit as is brought in the mishna in Peah אלו דברים שאין להם שיעור הפאה והביכורים וגמילות חסדים וכו' ותלמוד תורה כנגד בולם
These things have no given amount peah, the first fruits, kindness, honor of parents, visiting the sick etc., and learning Torah is equal to all of them together.
That is you can add as much to learning Torah or doing kindness and that is not a sin because the commandment has not given amount. But other commandments that have an amount, if one adds extra, he or she loses the fulfillment.
See Rav Shach there that there is an argument how to explain the Gemara in Menakot [page 40 side b and also page 41 side a] that is the source of this whole issue. But to all the different opinions, putting on another thread makes the whole fulfillment null and void.
The issue there in Menakot is "to make" not make from "what is already made", and the gemara asks on this from R. Zeira. Then Rava makes an statement that seems hard to understand and that is the source of the difficulty.
These things have no given amount peah, the first fruits, kindness, honor of parents, visiting the sick etc., and learning Torah is equal to all of them together.
That is you can add as much to learning Torah or doing kindness and that is not a sin because the commandment has not given amount. But other commandments that have an amount, if one adds extra, he or she loses the fulfillment.
See Rav Shach there that there is an argument how to explain the Gemara in Menakot [page 40 side b and also page 41 side a] that is the source of this whole issue. But to all the different opinions, putting on another thread makes the whole fulfillment null and void.
The issue there in Menakot is "to make" not make from "what is already made", and the gemara asks on this from R. Zeira. Then Rava makes an statement that seems hard to understand and that is the source of the difficulty.
pseudo commandments
The issue of adding to the commandments seems to me to be serious. It is just like the Torah says "Do not add and do not subtract to these commandments that I have commanded you this day". You can see what happens when lots of things are added "to make a fence" around the law that then automatically changes the whole structure of the law itself and certainly detracts from the actual fulfillment of real commandments when all people's energy is devoted to keeping pseudo commandments.
This is what it actually says in the commentary on Pirkei Avot by an amora R. Natan. [It is printed in the Vilna Shas after the end of seder Nezikim which is where Pirkei Avot itself is. אבות דר' נתן על פרקי אבות על המשנה לעשות סייג לתורה
There are examples of being strict about addition stuff results in open violation of actual commandments of the Torah. This is not just in theory.
This is what it actually says in the commentary on Pirkei Avot by an amora R. Natan. [It is printed in the Vilna Shas after the end of seder Nezikim which is where Pirkei Avot itself is. אבות דר' נתן על פרקי אבות על המשנה לעשות סייג לתורה
There are examples of being strict about addition stuff results in open violation of actual commandments of the Torah. This is not just in theory.
21.3.20
Do not add to the commandments [Deuteronomy: "Thou shalt not add nor subtract from these commandments which I command you this day."]
I was wondering about the prohibition in the Torah of not adding to the commandments.
There is obviously a question about a lot of stuff.
One area you see this is with the blue thread on the corner of ones garments.
See Rav Shach on this issue in the Avi Ezri. [The very first law in the laws about the blue thread on the four corners on one's garment]. There he brings this issue concerning putting on a fifth thread which makes all the previous four threads "pasul"[null] . That is putting on an extra thread--just to be extra strict makes the fulfillment of the commandment null and void.
I never really got a satisfying answer to this question. My learning partner brought this idea that if you add;-- but you do not say it is an obligation from the Torah, but rather from your own volition or some decree of the scribes, that makes it OK. (?)The problem with this answer seems to be right here in this law that Rav Shach brings. Here we see that it makes no difference if one says he is adding another thread because of what ever reason there may be. The very fact of adding it makes the entire fulfillment of the commandment null and void.
Rav Shach brings this issue in a few other places in the Avi Ezri, but this is the most recent place that I noticed.]
Not adding to the commandments is a large issue. There are things that are considered a need for the times. Like you would have in norms like when to cross the street. Not to cross on a red light etc.
But to claim these are obligations of the Torah would be a problem. On the other hand there are commandments of the Torah that do not have upper or lower limits--like learning Torah or all the things mentioned in the beginning of tractate Peah. [These are the things that have no size... and learning Torah is equal to all.]
There is obviously a question about a lot of stuff.
One area you see this is with the blue thread on the corner of ones garments.
See Rav Shach on this issue in the Avi Ezri. [The very first law in the laws about the blue thread on the four corners on one's garment]. There he brings this issue concerning putting on a fifth thread which makes all the previous four threads "pasul"[null] . That is putting on an extra thread--just to be extra strict makes the fulfillment of the commandment null and void.
I never really got a satisfying answer to this question. My learning partner brought this idea that if you add;-- but you do not say it is an obligation from the Torah, but rather from your own volition or some decree of the scribes, that makes it OK. (?)The problem with this answer seems to be right here in this law that Rav Shach brings. Here we see that it makes no difference if one says he is adding another thread because of what ever reason there may be. The very fact of adding it makes the entire fulfillment of the commandment null and void.
Rav Shach brings this issue in a few other places in the Avi Ezri, but this is the most recent place that I noticed.]
Not adding to the commandments is a large issue. There are things that are considered a need for the times. Like you would have in norms like when to cross the street. Not to cross on a red light etc.
But to claim these are obligations of the Torah would be a problem. On the other hand there are commandments of the Torah that do not have upper or lower limits--like learning Torah or all the things mentioned in the beginning of tractate Peah. [These are the things that have no size... and learning Torah is equal to all.]
trust in God and learning fast
The way of learning of just saying the words in order and going on is not directly related to trust in God. Yet it does provide an opportunity to exercise trust in God.
And having a chance to do something positive about acting on trust is a way to help trust in God grow.
I mean to say any good character trait grows in general by how much you exercise that trait. Whether by kindness or telling the truth. But trust in God seems different. How do you exercise it expect by "not doing". So since in any case one is required to learn, this gives a chance to do something positive to help your trust--and faith- in God grow.
[The idea of learning I want to add is not for everything. Pseudo wisdoms are not in the category of things that it is a commandment to learn. So what is in the category of "teach them to your children and speak of them" is highly limited. To the Rishonim [mediaeval authorities] the command is only on the Oral or Written Torah. Only some Rishonim include Physics and Metaphysics in the command. [Those Rishonim based on Saadia Gaon]]
So my idea of what to study [especially now when you have a chance --finally out of the rat race. Quarantine.] Is the Avi Ezri of Rav Shach and Physics. As for Metaphysics I am not sure what to recommend.
And having a chance to do something positive about acting on trust is a way to help trust in God grow.
I mean to say any good character trait grows in general by how much you exercise that trait. Whether by kindness or telling the truth. But trust in God seems different. How do you exercise it expect by "not doing". So since in any case one is required to learn, this gives a chance to do something positive to help your trust--and faith- in God grow.
[The idea of learning I want to add is not for everything. Pseudo wisdoms are not in the category of things that it is a commandment to learn. So what is in the category of "teach them to your children and speak of them" is highly limited. To the Rishonim [mediaeval authorities] the command is only on the Oral or Written Torah. Only some Rishonim include Physics and Metaphysics in the command. [Those Rishonim based on Saadia Gaon]]
So my idea of what to study [especially now when you have a chance --finally out of the rat race. Quarantine.] Is the Avi Ezri of Rav Shach and Physics. As for Metaphysics I am not sure what to recommend.
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