העורך Editor

I didn’t read Marc Shapiro’s “Limits of Orthodox Theology”, but from the blurb, it sounds like the anonymous Hebrew pamphlet we recently posted here.

It is commonly asserted that Maimonides’ famous Thirteen Principles are the last word in Orthodox Jewish theology. This is a very popular notion, and is often repeated by scholars from all camps in Judaism. Yet such a position ignores the long history of Jewish theology in which Maimonides’ Principles have been subject to great dispute. The book begins with a discussion of the significance of the Principles and illustrates how they assumed such a central place in traditional Judaism. Each principle is then considered in turn: the reasons underlying Maimonides’ formulations are expounded and the disputes that have arisen concerning them are discussed in detail. Marc B. Shapiro’s authoritative analysis makes it quite clear that the notion that Maimonides’ Principles are the last word in traditional Jewish theology is a misconception, and that even Maimonides himself was not fully convinced of every aspect of his formulations. Although structured around Maimonides’ Principles, this book can also be seen as an encyclopedia of traditional Jewish thought concerning the central issues of Jewish theology.

The diversity of opinion in Jewish tradition on such issues as God, Creation, and the Revelation of the Torah is sure to surprise readers.

From book summaries I’ve seen (maybe somewhere here), not all of his points are valid, and some are self-admittedly conjectural, but enough suffices to make his point (and the book itself is probably even better).

No, of course not. This doesn’t fit with half the pesukim in any discernible way. Chassidim separate the words, so when it says “King Achashverosh” made a feast for those living in Shushan, it means Avashverosh plus Hashem. Except this adds nothing, because Hashem does everything, anyhow, so you might as well take all words to mean Hashem.

As usual, people rely on a half-quote from a preacher.

Here’s the original Chazal, Esther Rabba 3:10:

Rambam on Avos 2:14:

מה שתשיב לאפיקורוס… ואמרו אף על פי שתלמד דעות האומות לדעת איך תשיב עליהם, השמר שלא יעלה בלבך דבר מן הדעות ההם, ודע שמי שתעמוד לפניו יודע צפון לבך, והוא אמרו ודע לפני מי אתה עמל, רצה לומר שיכוין לבו באמונת השם יתברך.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov says the same.

Sefer Hamiddos “Hirhur” 1:1:

על ידי ענוה ינצל מהרהורי עבודה זרה.

A letter from the Steipler Illuy (see also Chayei Olam Part One Chapter 27):

… עוד יש עצה בדוקה לבטל כל הספיקות אלא שהיא קשה מאד, דהיינו הענוה, דבזמן שהוא תופס עצמו באמת כאין וכדבר שאין בו חשיבות והוא נכנע לפני הקב”ה, פורחין מיד כל הספיקות, ולא איכפת לי’ בהם כלל, אלא שכאמור ענוה קשה מאד להשיגה באמת שלא בדמיונות בעלמא ואכמ”ל.

By the way, we referenced the above article in our free, special ebook on answering atheists. To receive the full Hebrew ebook, subscribe to Hyehudi’s Daily Newsletter here.

Journalism: A profession whose business is to explain to others what it personally does not understand.

• Lord Northcliffe