Q&A: Nachmanides’ View on the Obligation to Believe the Aggadic Passages of the Talmud
Nachmanides’ View on the Obligation to Believe the Aggadic Passages of the Talmud
Question
It is well known what Nachmanides said in his disputation with one of the priests: that there is no obligation to believe what is written in the aggadic passages of the Talmud [he said this in response to a proof for Jesus drawn from the aggadic passages of the Talmud]. In your opinion, did he say this as an evasion, or did he truly believe it?
If he did believe it, do you think one can infer from this that there is no obligation to accept the principles of faith, all of which are explained in the aggadic passages of the Talmud?
Did you see my latest response regarding permitting mamzerim, or did it escape his holy eyes?
Answer
I answered about the mamzerim issue, didn’t I?
There is a debate whether Nachmanides meant it seriously or not. Several articles were written about this in Tzohar and elsewhere. I haven’t looked into it, so I don’t have a position on the matter. But from my standpoint it’s not really important, because my view of aggadah is not based on what Nachmanides thought, one way or the other.
Discussion on Answer
Give me a link.
https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D-2/
I hope I managed it; this is my first time.
Would you look at that! These weird things actually work.
Boaz (“and drew off his shoe and gave it to his fellow… the acquisition takes effect”); “Would you look at that! These weird things actually work!” (ibid., ibid.)
And this requires further study.
Not to my latest response.