Q&A: Practical Relevance for a Woman’s Betrothal
Practical Relevance for a Woman’s Betrothal
Question
Rabbi, in your lecture on yeshiva-style conceptual learning you say that when people try to turn every question in the world into Torah study by saying, “It has practical relevance for a woman’s betrothal,” that’s nonsense. For example: is this wall nice-looking or not? Practical relevance for a woman’s betrothal. Nonsense.
I definitely feel that it’s nonsense, but logically it seems like a good argument, so why isn’t it accepted? Seemingly they’re right: if it has practical relevance for a woman’s betrothal, then that is good practical relevance. So why not, really?
Answer
Not everything that has halakhic practical relevance is Torah. The value of the coin given for betrothal also has practical relevance for whether the betrothal takes effect, but appraising coins is not Torah. Without breakfast you won’t have the strength to study, but eating breakfast is not Torah study.
A religious court also has to deal with elements that are not Torah in order to reach a halakhic ruling, but that does not mean it is Torah study.