חדש באתר: NotebookLM עם כל תכני הרב מיכאל אברהם

Q&A: Understanding the Sages

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Understanding the Sages

Question

Hello Rabbi,
I asked this question in the past, and I wanted to ask it again from a different angle and with more detail.
When the Tannaim or Amoraim, and likewise the medieval authorities (Rishonim), knew astronomy or medicine and the like, does that mean they knew it from the Torah, or that they learned it from the professionals of their time? Because I saw that the Chazon Ish (Orach Chayim, sec. 138, subsec. 4) wrote to one rabbi who had written that Shmuel took his approach on matters of the seasons/cycles from the astronomers of his time. The Chazon Ish commented: “These are among the falsehoods that the evil inclination cherishes, something like the impulse toward idolatry; and although the author was God-fearing, he erred and thought it was permissible to say such a thing, and he served heresy unintentionally.”
And I know that the Rabbi’s view is not like that—is that correct? And are there examples of this in the Talmud and the like, in line with what you say?
Thank you.

Answer

If you already asked, why are you asking again?
It is very likely that it was not from the Torah. There are plenty of examples. For instance, at the beginning of tractate Sanhedrin we see that Rav learned about animal blemishes from cattle herders.

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