Q&A: Be'er HaGolah
Be'er HaGolah
Question
Almost good night, Rabbi Michi!
This past Sabbath I decided to read Be'er HaGolah by the Maharal (by the way, I have no idea whether the lamed is pronounced with a segol or not). I read the first “well,” and very quickly went back to Tractate Chagigah. I thought he would answer the very good questions there are there (for example, how rabbinic commandments are not considered “do not add” [to the Torah], etc.), and what can I tell you—I was disappointed. Maybe I’m just stuck in my way of thinking, but reading what he wrote there really reminded me of Hidabroot lectures (if you want, I can really point specifically to why). My question is whether it’s worth continuing. I’m asking you as someone who has read it—whether it taught you anything new or changed anything in your thinking. If you have answers to the questions the Maharal discusses in the book in columns or articles, please send me a link
Answer
You are mistaken. I haven’t read it. I’m not among the admirers of the Maharal, or of Jewish thought literature in general. As for why rabbinic enactments do not violate “do not add,” you don’t need the Maharal for that. There are explicit medieval authorities (Rishonim) on this. See, for example, Tosafot and Rashba on Rosh Hashanah 16 regarding the additional shofar blasts to confuse Satan. And also in Maimonides, Laws of Rebels. I’m sure there are also surveys online.