Devarim (04:06) Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the is nations, who, when they shall hear all these statutes, shall say, Surely this great nation a wise and understanding people.
Rashi Devarim (04:06) FOR THIS IS YOUR WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLES — i.e. through this ye will be accounted wise and understanding men in the eyes of the peoples.
Sforno (04:06) Observance of the laws of the Torah is your true wisdom and will enable you to resist the lures and challenges by the heretics.
Rabbeinu Bachya (Devarim (04:06) Nations perceive as your wisdom and discernment.” The verse teaches first and foremost that all the commandments only come into their own when being performed. Their integrity has to be safeguarded and their substance has to be carried out or performed by not violating them. All the worthwhile activities in the world are automatically part of one or more of the Torah’s commandments. The discipline of healing is part of a commandment seeing the Torah tells us that if we listen carefully to its commandments and perform all its statutes and refrain from violating them we will not experience disease, etc., “seeing the Lord is your Healer.” The message is clear: Torah observance=preventive medicine. The same applies to all other scientific disciplines.
I don't think it just makes us appear wise but rather actually makes us wise, and eventually the non-jewish people of the world will recognize that.
ReplyDeleteso you disagree with Rashi?
DeleteAre you saying that he means that we will not actually become wise but we will only appear that way in their eyes?
DeleteSee Maharik and others explain Rashi. There are various ways to understand what he says.
Delete