Q&A: An Amazing Answer by Rabbi Yom Tov Cheshin to the Well-Known (Eternal) Question
An Amazing Answer by Rabbi Yom Tov Cheshin to the Well-Known (Eternal) Question
Question
I came across on YouTube a lecture by Rabbi Yom Tov Cheshin titled "Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s Extraordinary Brilliant Approach to the Question of Divine Knowledge and Free Choice and Its Practical Implications." Throughout the lecture, Rabbi Cheshin explains and analyzes, quite elegantly, that contrary to what is commonly attributed to Rabbi Nachman, a careful look at his talks and teachings clearly proves that Rabbi Nachman held, firmly and unequivocally, that "two opposites within one subject" is not only something "impossible," but even more than that: it is utterly devoid of meaning or significance, and cannot be attributed at all either to the Holy One, blessed be He, or to anyone else. And that all his statements about faith that is "above reason" refer only to things that "appear to us like two opposites within one subject," but are not really so. Moreover, there are things that to us do not appear to be "two opposites" or even "one subject," and דווקא in relation to the Holy One, blessed be He, they are considered such, and therefore they really are things to which no possibility can be attributed at all (not even impossibility).
What especially caught my attention was a passing remark by Rabbi Cheshin, following a question from one of the participants, about the well-known "paradox" regarding whether or not the Holy One, blessed be He, can "create a stone that He cannot lift." Rabbi Cheshin seemingly provides a complete answer here to that question. As much as I have turned over his answer, it seems entirely valid to me, and that simply amazes me, because I still haven’t seen anyone dismantle so easily and so thoroughly something that has troubled quite a few people of faith throughout the ages.
I am sending the Rabbi a link to the YouTube lecture (which opens at the relevant second). The section that deals with this matter is less than 5 minutes long (from 01:18:52 to 01:23:44). I would very much like to hear what the Rabbi thinks about it.
https://youtu.be/a4lgLH-Jkok?t=4731
Answer
A ridiculous question, and I don’t see why one needs to listen to an answer to it. Search here on the site in several places. I believe there is even a column dealing with the omnipotence paradox.
All right, I listened anyway. It’s empty wordplay, devoid of content. There is no answer there at all, and I’m surprised that someone as talented as he is would say such things. But as stated, there is no question here and no need for sophisticated answers.