Niflaos Tiferes Shlomo (73): … An obvious question is why we find that throughout the Talmud and Medrashim stories and wonders are told by the Tannaim and Amoraim with widely varying details. One will say this is the way it happened and while another will tell a different version. If so, G d forbid that one of them should be telling a lie! ... The fact is that we are not really concerned with the details but rather the basic message. Thus our Sages were not so concerned with the particular details as long as long as the message was conveyed. So what difference does it make when a good person is being praised and glorified or the opposite if a wicked person is being degraded – the message is the important thing not the details…? All that should matter is that the desired purpose is achieved in a particular story to arouse a proper impression in the listener so that he understands the words of Torah and his faith is strengthened in Divine Providence and the strength and power of tzadikim. What difference does it matter if the details vary? Therefore there is no significance in the differing versions because they all describe the essential truth.
As I've written before, this is the difference between UltraOrthodox and Intelligent Orthodox.
ReplyDeleteAccording to UO, if Chazal came back today they would still insist that the world is flat and covered in a dome and the sun goes under the ground at night and we would reject 1000's of years of astronomy.
According IO, Chazal would be stunned at what we've learned and then they would update their knowledge and shout "Mah rabu ma'asecha!"
How can he claim what's the difference? The difference is whether or not such a system gains public credence. Why show lack of concern for accuracy by misreporting stories?
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