Knowledge is the building block of Judaism. Love of God is contingent on what one knows about Him.
ועל פי הדעה--על פי האהבה--אם מעט מעט, ואם הרבה הרבה
I am planning to post from time to time some of the ideas that I develop as I read and think about issues that catch my attention. Usually they relate to Machshava or Halacha especially how they affect our daily life. I am looking forward to learn from all commenters.
It was an awful post. If Kabalah is all bogus (and I believe you agree it is), and was totally accepted by almost all Acharonim, then taking off your tefillin by Musaf is hardly the biggest problem.
GH you have to go step by step. It is very difficult to change in one swoop. See the Ramabam on Avodah Zara and the comparison to Yetzias Mitzraim. The other thing that S. points out is that you have to be very knowledgeable before you know awhat is genuine and what is bogus. Kabbalah creeped in very insidiously.
Sure he does. He means that he doesn't feel conflicted. David told me that he omits as much kabbalistic based practice as he can, and feels fine doing it.
S. is correct. i have reached the Madrefa that when I do s kabbalistic thing "Mipney Darchei Sholom" I feel guilty because I feel a "shemetz avoda zara".
I have an opinion about Kabbalah that is forming in my mind after reading what I believe is a seminal piece in ohr Sameach. I have read it over many times now and i think i know where he is coming from. i want to see some sources further before i write publicly about it.
>I know, it took many years for Kabbalah to overtake the philosophy of the Rambam ;)
that is incorrect. It overtook it from the get go. By the time of Ramban who was seven years old when Rambam died it was in full bloom. Within a 100 years there were enough false letters from Rambam that later rabbis believed that he Chas Vechalial became a kabbalist in his old age (I think Migdal Oz already claims that as a fact). Which proves my point "Sheani minus demashcha :-)
It was an awful post. If Kabalah is all bogus (and I believe you agree it is), and was totally accepted by almost all Acharonim, then taking off your tefillin by Musaf is hardly the biggest problem.
ReplyDeleteGH you have to go step by step. It is very difficult to change in one swoop. See the Ramabam on Avodah Zara and the comparison to Yetzias Mitzraim. The other thing that S. points out is that you have to be very knowledgeable before you know awhat is genuine and what is bogus. Kabbalah creeped in very insidiously.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you know what the word sanguine means.
ReplyDeleteSure he does. He means that he doesn't feel conflicted. David told me that he omits as much kabbalistic based practice as he can, and feels fine doing it.
ReplyDeleteS. is correct. i have reached the Madrefa that when I do s kabbalistic thing "Mipney Darchei Sholom" I feel guilty because I feel a "shemetz avoda zara".
ReplyDeleteI have an opinion about Kabbalah that is forming in my mind after reading what I believe is a seminal piece in ohr Sameach. I have read it over many times now and i think i know where he is coming from. i want to see some sources further before i write publicly about it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteGH you have to go step by step. It is very difficult to change in one swoop
ReplyDeleteI know, it took many years for Kabbalah to overtake the philosophy of the Rambam ;)
>I know, it took many years for Kabbalah to overtake the philosophy of the Rambam ;)
ReplyDeletethat is incorrect. It overtook it from the get go. By the time of Ramban who was seven years old when Rambam died it was in full bloom. Within a 100 years there were enough false letters from Rambam that later rabbis believed that he Chas Vechalial became a kabbalist in his old age (I think Migdal Oz already claims that as a fact). Which proves my point "Sheani minus demashcha :-)