Q&A: The Torch Relay
The Torch Relay
Question
Honorable Rabbi, I wanted to ask:
I only just now skimmed the book Matzui Rishon, and as I understood it, the proof from tradition based on what is written in the Kuzari is not sufficiently plausible without all the proofs for the existence of God.
My question is whether the Rabbi has heard the lecture known as “The Torch Relay,” which I believe was developed by Arachim, in which they make a comparison by means of a parable about how one can preserve a historical event for generations—in other words, so that it will always be possible to prove that it happened.
They do this using the Holocaust: what could be done in order to preserve the memory of the Holocaust against deniers.
In my opinion, it may not be proven (as the Rabbi says, that there is nothing in the world that is proven), but it is very, very plausible even without the proofs for God. The question is whether the Rabbi is familiar with that topic / lecture, and whether that is what was meant here as well?
I would be very grateful if the Rabbi could devote some of his time and answer me.
Best regards.
Answer
I am not familiar with that lecture, but I heard different versions of it when I was myself in a seminar. I was not very impressed.
Discussion on Answer
Read the book. Traditions can get distorted and can be invented. See the introduction to In Praise of the Baal Shem Tov.
For what reason, really, does the Rabbi not accept it—just because it isn’t convincing, or for some specific reason?