Q&A: Does the Talmud Provide Unambiguous Answers?
Does the Talmud Provide Unambiguous Answers?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
In conversations with quite a few religious friends, they argue that there is “one truth” regarding each of the issues discussed in the Talmud. That is, they do admit that there are many discussions and disputes in countless Talmudic passages, but in the end there is one conclusion agreed upon by everyone, and that is what obligates us.
In several places I got the impression that you argue something completely different. One example is a YouTube video about Talmudic DNA with Kobi Meidan, where sitting next to you was some doctor of something-or-other (I don’t remember in what), who argued for the first position—that there are unambiguous answers. And a few other times I think I read this in passing in various posts or answers to questions you wrote. Correct me if I’m wrong, but in your view the Talmud is structured in such a way that it does not really provide complete answers, but at most causes you to think about possible directions.
This is interesting, because one could say that this is almost a factual question, since either it is true or it is not. My question is whether you have material, or anything else written, that answers this question, along with examples of specific Talmudic passages and so on. I’m curious to know your full and detailed answer to this.
I should say that I looked here on the site and did not find an answer to this, and in your books too I don’t think there is an answer to it (to the best of my knowledge).
Thank you very much
Answer
I did not understand what the question is or why you are looking for answers. There is a simple fact that cannot be disputed: an overwhelming majority of Talmudic passages end without a halakhic conclusion.