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Q&A: Regarding Leibowitz’s approach and the Rabbi’s approach

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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Regarding Leibowitz’s approach and the Rabbi’s approach

Question

Hello Rabbi, I wanted to ask about the difference between Leibowitz’s approach and your approach—what things do you take from him and adopt from his way, and which parts do you think he is mistaken about or takes too far?
 
I know this is a very broad and far-reaching topic, and I’m asking only in general terms, because you’ve said several times that there are things you took from him and from his approach, or at least that’s how I remember it.

Answer

I can’t answer such a general question.

Discussion on Answer

Amir (2019-07-14)

Okay, so I’ll ask more specifically—do you accept his approach regarding prayer, that one prays because “that’s what one is supposed to do,” without any intention at all? And his approach, which he developed from the words of Meshekh Chokhmah, that there is no holiness in anything created or in objects?

Michi (2019-07-14)

Regarding prayer, I suggest you search the site. I’ve elaborated on this in quite a few places. In brief, I accept his approach as a foundation (that the basis of prayer lies in the declaration that there is an obligation to say it), on top of which come the usual layers of prayer. This approach of his is a good example of a general characteristic of his: he takes a correct idea and goes much too far with it.
Regarding holiness, I really do not agree. In my opinion, even Meshekh Chokhmah did not mean that. The matter is explicit in several places, that there is holiness in the object itself and not only in the person. In fact, the concept of holiness is the main concept for illustrating a law that applies to the object itself.

Roni (2019-07-14)

By the way, Meshekh Chokhmah himself wrote explicitly in several places not in line with the things Leibowitz attributed to him, but Leibowitz selectively chose the passage that can be interpreted in accordance with his own view (as he also did with Maimonides).

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