Truth Ktzos:Relative Truth

Ktzos (Introduction): The Torah was not given to angels but rather to human beings who have limited intelligence. G d gave us the Torah because of his great mercy and kindness. He wanted it to be observed according to the understanding of human intelligence – even if this interpretation is not true in the absolute sense. The Ran (Derashos HaRan #7) has discussed this in detail based upon the Bava Metzia (86a) Now, they were disputing in the Heavenly Academy thus: If the bright spot preceded the white hair, he is unclean; if the reverse, he is clean. If the order is in doubt — G-d, ruled, He is clean; whilst the entire Heavenly Academy maintained, He is unclean. Who shall decide it? said they. — Rabbah b. Nahmani; for he said, I am pre-eminent in the laws of leprosy and tents. The Ran questions why if G d had stated that it is tahor, how could the Heavenly yeshiva dispute this and say that it is tamei and thus require Rabbah to resolve the dispute? The Ran answers that since according to their human understanding it is tamei than even though this the opposite of the truth – they are required to follow human understanding. In fact it is prohibited according to the Torah to do differently from that which human intelligence dictates. The case of Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol is similar. Even though a voice came from Heaven to announce that the halacha is always in accordance to his view and no one doubted that the voice was actually from G d- nevertheless the halachic authority is not in Heaven. Therefore Rabbah was needed to resolve the dispute between G d and the Heavenly yeshiva. It was obviously not needed to ask him in order to ascertain the absolute truth, since this was already known from what G d had said. The reason that they had disagreed with G d was either because they were relying on human understanding or because they had not been diligent enough in their studies during their life times. Who ever sees this is shocked and his heart trembles. If elite people such as these who have merited to be members of the Heavenly yeshiva before G d have not perfected their human intellect because the topic is so profound and their comprehension is limited or because they weren't diligent enough in their Torah studies during their lifetimes. If the early generations were like angels – we with our weak minds who are overwhelmed with the stress of existence and in our free moments are blanketed with the cloud of laziness and we have only weak grasp of our Torah knowledge that even simple things in Mesechta Kalah we have mastered – woe is to us from the embarrassment of Torah.

Emes L’Yakov (Devarim 25:1) Before Man was created, the attribute of Truth complained that since Man was full of lies, he shouldn’t be created. G d threw Truth to the ground and then created man. This act was the creation of relative Truth in addition to the Absolute Truth that had existed before. This relative Truth is truth according to the person’s comprehension. He extends this concept also to the term Tzadik . This term which is normally used to described a person on a high level - is also used to describe someone who has Truth. This is found in the verse (Devarim 25,1) dealing with Aidem Zommim. - V’Hatzdiku es HaTzadik.