Rashi cites a statement of Rabbi Yitzchok as to why whv Torah starts with Bereishis . He notes concern that the goyim might accuse Jews of stealing Israel. Nachshoni says this is not concern for goyim but is reflective of Jewish concerns for a military conquest.
The Chasam Sofer (Derasha for Simchas Torah) notes that some would claim that Israel should be conquered miraculously. But in fact there is no difference between a miraculous or natural conquest
He was Torah true, to an exceptionally high degree.
ReplyDeleteTherefore he says things that are correct, eg Zionism, permission to shave, acceptance of scientific truths, being pro eruv, setc
Remember he wrote a teshuvah noting that if Israel returned to Jewish sovereignty, Torah-Jews would be expected to drop the "learn-don't earn" line and go get jobs to build up the lands. I believe his line was "Just like no one avoids putting on tefillin and davening because he's too busy learning, so too building up the Land is a mitzvah and we will have to participate."
DeleteI've heard that they rip that teshuvah out of his books in all the good yeshivos.
Nothing like respect for the Torah greats when it comes to Hareidi yeshivas!
DeleteGedolim are only Gedolim when they say what the masses want them too.
DeleteIt's only katanim who make a big fuss about gedolim, and that's only to boost their own careers and power bases. So one relies on katanim to know who the gedolim are, what they say, and what we must accept.
Delete