Q&A: Religious Zionist Torah Greats
Religious Zionist Torah Greats
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Please forgive me for the odd question, but are there Torah greats within the Religious Zionist public on a scale similar to those that supposedly exist in the Haredi public?
And in general, how does one measure greatness in Torah, and is there any practical significance to deciding the issue?
With respect and appreciation
Answer
The question is how you define greatness in Torah. If you mean sheer knowledge (knowing what is written in the medieval authorities and later authorities), I think there is no comparison. But in my opinion knowledge is not all that important nowadays, when there are information databases available (and Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin already wrote this in Nefesh HaChaim, that nowadays there is no prohibition against forgetting something from the Torah). What is important is sound, deep, and creative thinking, and an understanding of reality (common sense). And in that respect, in my humble opinion, there are far more Torah greats in the modern public.
I can’t think of any practical significance this would have.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t know of any orderly method for acquiring common sense. You simply have to be aware of the need to develop it and invest in it. And above all, you have to believe that it has value, and not invent all sorts of notions like “Torah intellect” and other baseless inventions. Common sense is valid in every field and for all people. Torah knowledge does not necessarily lead to common sense. The question is with what kind of intellect you interpreted that Torah knowledge. There is no neutral Torah knowledge without interpretation.
Following up on your answer, isn’t “common sense” a result of sheer Torah knowledge? Can one say that the more one adds in Torah knowledge, the more one detracts? How does one acquire that same “common sense”?