Rav S. R. Hirsch (Letter to R. Hile Wechsler,published by Mordechai Breuer in Hama’ayan 16:2 (Tevet 5736/1976) p. 6) A related topic is the question of the nature of magic, astrology, demons, and suchlike... Who dares get involved in a dispute between Rambam and Ramban,following whom the camp of Israel is split in two on such matters? ...And if so,every intelligent person is entitled to adopt either view in the absence of either being ruled out. Alternatively—and in my view, this is the more correct approach—he can admit that he has no clarity in the matters.And I will admit without shame that I have never bothered to investigate and analyze the nature of these things, just as I have never been curious to investigate and inquire as to the nature of the World-to-Come, the world of the resurrection,and so on. For the truth of these things is concealed from everyone, and it is impossible to attain clarity on these things with decisive proofs... What difference does it make if with regard to matters of witchcraft and suchlike, the truth lies with Rambam or Ramban? Either way, we have to distance ourselves from such things, whether they are genuine or nonsensical. (
can somebody be as great as the Rambam or Ramban today, on an intellectual level? I am not talking about spiritual level or authority in Torah.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how anyone can entertain magic as being true today. In particular, a million dollar prize was offered for years to anyone who could perform anything supernatural under controlled conditions and the money was never collected. See Randi Million Dollar Offer. Magic has been researched exhaustively and shown to be either misreported or trickery.
ReplyDeleteTefillin ink sparks outrage, but ex-Haredi tattoo artist says it came from faith, not mockery
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/r1yi2wipzx
My favourite is the Jewish biker who put YKVK (in Hebrew, of course) on his forehead. I mean, does he know he has to put on a toque every time he goes to the bathroom now?
DeleteDid he use K as a substitute, or the actual Heh?
DeleteNo, that actual heh, just like in the siddur!
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