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Torah interpretation

שו”תCategory: Torah and ScienceTorah interpretation
asked 2 years ago

Hello Rabbi,
I once asked how evolution fits in with the Torah, and you said that the Torah does not give us historical information.
I thought about it and in itself it works out very well and I’m ready to accept it,
The point is, isn’t it a bit problematic to interpret the Torah so that it fits with science?
You gave the proof with Rashi, although it is puzzling why the story of creation was written at all, but in general this is not what is taught from childhood, from religious state schools to Jewish schools and yeshivahs, at least from what I have experienced. I also believe that if I turn to a typical religious person, he will tell me that this is the history of the Jewish people, at least that is how he was taught… I am interested in what rabbis like Rabbi Kanievsky and Rabbi Ovadia would say about this. After all, if the Torah does not give us historical information, how come they did not think so even before the study of evolution?
 


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מיכי Staff answered 2 years ago
I wrote to you that they thought so long before evolution (the Rambam, for example, at least about the creation parables. The Rambam says that there are parables in the Torah that are a parable or a dream. He also writes about the legends of the Sages that anyone who interprets them factually is a fool). As for what is being taught, I suggest asking those who are teaching this. The same goes for the rabbis. It’s worth asking them. I’m expressing my opinion, not theirs.

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עדי replied 2 years ago

First of all, it's good that you speak for yourself and not for the Torah (which many do and it's very misleading and a shame…) On the other hand, it still leaves the question a little open because education says a lot and if you don't agree on something, it's a problem because then one big mess is created, and in my opinion it's important that they sort something out, anyway, the situation is not good and there are too many currents, if what you're saying really holds water, it's very worthwhile to establish and educate systematically and raise awareness, because in my opinion it's very basic…
That's one, besides, I have something else that I thought you might understand about this, it's more related to science - regarding the round world (in the Torah I know what is written in the Zohar and I understood that there are interpretations for that too), I was wondering about this, if a plane travels straight without any change or curvature, shouldn't it go into space at some point if the world is a sphere? Can't you do an experiment that checks the height of the plane above sea level and see at some point a curvature? Let's say 10,000 feet, 11,000, 12,000, etc. In the places I checked, I understood that the plane wouldn't withstand gravity and crash something like that, but theoretically, it's actually possible, isn't it?

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

I don't see any value in uniformity. On the contrary. I do see value in truth, but no one can find out the truth and enforce it on everyone (and that's a good thing). I say what I have to say, and whoever receives receives. The market of opinions should be open.

I didn't understand the question. If a plane flies straight, it will indeed go into space. But the plane doesn't fly straight. I didn't understand what experiment you want them to do: to check that the world is round? They did and checked. It is round.

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

Section B is an excellent example of section A. There are some crazy people who think the world is flat. Do you expect anyone to force them to think differently? And that's still in the realm of facts and science. So in the realm of beliefs and opinions, that's certainly not to be expected.

עדי replied 2 years ago

Interesting, so you're actually on the pluralist approach, there's a lot of value in that, I just sometimes translate it as confusion, but it probably has more advantages than one body imposing something on everyone like you described…
Regarding the plane, it's also very interesting, but why doesn't it actually fly straight?

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

This is not substantial pluralism. I am a monist who advocates one truth. But I am also in favor of freedom to think and discuss, for two reasons: 1. The duty of autonomy that everyone must act according to their understanding and the prohibition of coercion. 2. Without negotiation between different opinions, it is difficult to reach the truth. See my article here on the site about the price of tolerance.

In the 26th of Shvat, 15th century

Ra’i Kook writes in the Letters of Ra’i (typed?) that in the Genesis story, which is one of the mysteries of the Torah, there is more room for interpretation other than the simple meaning, unlike the other Torah stories.

Best regards, Fishel

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