Q&A: Authorities in Judaism
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Authorities in Judaism
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I have several questions related to authority in Judaism.
1. What is your view on the importance of studying the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), and why?
2. Who were your teachers?
3. Why are the Sages not an authority for you? Meaning, is Maimonides = Kant, meaning that there is no distinctively Jewish thought? a0
Thank you a0
Answer
- I don’t see the connection between this question and authority in Judaism. In my view it is not important, and this has been explained here more than once. Search the site for studying the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
- Why is that relevant? There is one person to whom I could attribute that title, but I really do not follow his path. Beyond that, I learned from many people and books.
- You’ve mixed together things that don’t belong together. The Sages are an authority in Jewish law, but not beyond that. This too has been explained here many times. Search for formal authority and substantive authority.
Discussion on Answer
Many have influenced me in various ways (mainly through books). I don’t see much point or value in lists. You can read throughout my writings and see the names.
I’m not getting into names. One thing is clear: speaking with foreign terms or having this or that kind of “flavor” is irrelevant. Where did you come up with that nonsense?
Let me try to expand question 2: who influenced the Rabbi’s way of thinking? (I know about Rabbi Shimon Shkop, Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, and maybe Plato, for example.)
And also—which rabbis today does the Rabbi intellectually appreciate? For example, rabbis in the style of Rabbi Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch? Do they have to have that kind of academic style of thinking and speaking with foreign terms, or would, say, modern Haredi rabbis also count, even if they don’t express themselves in academic writing and speech all that much? Thank you very much!