Kotzker Rebbe (Emes v’Emuna #670) The Kotzker reconciled the contradiction between the view of the Rambam who wrote that shedim (demons) don’t exist with that of Chazal who mention the existence of demons in many places in the gemorah - by saying originally demons did in fact exist but that after the Rambam paskened that they don’t exist Heaven agreed and similarly paskened and that is why they no longer exist.
Interesting take.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the phenomenon existed/exists - Rambam doesn't like anything irrational so rejects demons as an explanation.
Oh well then must be it then. And when the Ramban came along and announced that the Rambam was wrong, did the demons come back?
ReplyDeletewhen the Kotzer rebbe lived, Rambam was a sefer, and his halacha was widely accepted as canonical. Kotzker is arguing that the power of Torah, and of psak by a Gadol B'Yisrael can change the nature /teva of the world. it is Hassidic thought.
ReplyDeleteLook at the difference between the Kotzker rebbe and the Gra. The gra attacks Rambam for his comment, whereas the kotzker shows maximum respect, treating him as a great chassidic Rebbe.
ReplyDeleteThis statement of the Kotzker was not typical of either his statements nor of chasidic theology and seems to have been said sarcastically
ReplyDeleteSarcasm? I thought that is only for commentors on blogs 😊
ReplyDelete