Q&A: Rabbi Akiva Eiger
Rabbi Akiva Eiger
Question
I was at a lecture that discussed our ability to disagree with the medieval authorities, and the rabbi in the lecture brought as an example Rabbi Akiva Eiger, who despite his genius nullified himself before the medieval authorities. And that rabbi said—and rightly so—that anyone who looks at the Rashba will see that his work is much more significant than Rabbi Akiva Eiger's. My question is: does the Rabbi think that the Rashba really is greater than Rabbi Akiva Eiger?
Answer
I don't know how to evaluate those bodies of work. In general, it's quite clear that Rabbi Akiva Eiger had analytical ability incomparably greater than the Rashba's (unless he hid his abilities very well).
Discussion on Answer
Indeed. Or perhaps there was some educational consideration for the public there (as is common in our circles, to glorify the earlier sages beyond what is reasonable). But more likely, Rabbi Akiva Eiger was educated like all of us on the greatness of the medieval authorities, and perhaps he really thought that compared to them, in reasoning, he was like a finger in wax.
With God's help, 11 Kislev 5781
After all, the scholar arrives at his analytical readings and distinctions out of seeing the complexity in the words of the medieval authorities, in whose Torah he meditates. He notices that Maimonides says one thing here and something different there, and since he assumes that Maimonides is not just casually throwing out one thing here and the opposite there, he exerts himself and understands that there must be a subtle distinction that reconciles the two passages together.
When the scholar grasps the magnitude of the depth and complexity in the words of the earlier sage, he understands the depth and wisdom hidden in the brief words of that earlier sage; and therefore his appreciation for the one who led him to those subtle distinctions rises and grows.
Best regards, Aner Eshkol Fischel-Warkaheimer
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1161&pgnum=70
So if that's the case, was his self-nullification a mistake?