Q&A: An Unclear Talmudic Passage
An Unclear Talmudic Passage
Question
A well-known Talmudic passage asks: what is considered an apikores? “One who says: What benefit have the rabbis given us? For themselves they learned, for themselves they taught.” Two things are not clear to me: A. How is Torah different from any other wisdom? Greek wisdom also has benefit—what added value does Torah have over any other kind of wisdom? B. Even if we understand what the added value of Torah wisdom is beyond other wisdoms, why would that make the person acquire the severe status of an apikores? Let them say he is gravely mistaken or something like that—what does this have to do with apikorsut?
Answer
The Torah is different from any other wisdom, because many people would not see it as wisdom at all. What wisdom is there in dealing with impurity and purity, or the laws of sacrifices? What practical benefit does that have? That is almost the literal meaning of “What benefit have they given us?… For themselves they learned.” And that is exactly apikorsut: lack of faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, and in the fact that His Torah has value.