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| R'Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, ZTL (Wikipedia) |
One of the reasons cited for the ban was Rabbi Slifkin’s contention that the world was more that 6000 years old instead billions of years old. Which of course meant that Chazal were mistaken in some of their views about the physical universe. Many of the their views do not match what we now know today based on modern day science. And according to R’ Eliashiv, science must be wrong.
R’ Eliashiv maintained the idea that Chazal were wrong even in matters of science was considered Kefira (heresy). If Chazal said it was so – it was indeed so – even in matters science.
I am not going to go into all the questions this approach raises. Suffice it to say that insisting on the belief that Chazal were infallible in matters of science despite the many instances in the Gemarah that clearly illustrate otherwise - can easily make an Apikores out of anyone that has the slightest bit of knowledge about the scientific matters in which Chazal commented. Their comments are in stark opposition to what we now know today. There are numerous obvious examples of that in the Gemara.
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was among those of us that believed in the science of our day. He was a scientist and believed the universe is billions of years old. And yet as I recently noted he is one of the most widely respected authors in the Charedi world.
The fact is that even though R’ Elyashiv was considered the Gadol HaDor, not everyone agreed with his view about Rabbi Slifkin’s books.
Most did as was the case with R’ Aharon Fleldman, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel. He had originally endorsed those books and then removed those endorsements after personally consulting with R’ Elayshiv.
By contrast, R’ Shmuel Kamenetsky, whom some consider to be the Gadol HaDor today did NOT remove his endorsement. He stood firm in his conviction that those books were not Apikursus. He later removed his endorsement for entirely different reasons unrelated to the content of those books. Point being that he did not view as Apikurus what R’ Eliashiv did.
This episode has caused untold grief to Rabbi Slifkin and his family. As well as causing grief to many educators that reach out to college educated youth. How does one reach out to educated people by denying the realities of scientific discovery?
When this whole thing broke, it became very troubling to me. Was I an Apikores for believing in an ancient universe? There are some people that might believe that. But I believed I was in good company with Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan.
Still believe that.
It is unfortunate that Rabbi Slifkin had to go through all that. His name was literally dragged through the mud. He was viscously attacked by numerous Charedi rabbis and educators for insisting that his books were not Apikurus - insisting that everything he wrote was vetted by respected Charedi rabbis tat were also knowledgable about science. And as noted had also gotten endorsements by rabbis that were considered Gedolim in the Charedi world.
This is in my view is one of the more shameful episodes in the world of Torah in the modern era.
I mention all of this in light of Rabbi Slifkin’s latest post wherein he feels the tide might be turning. It may once again be acceptable to say that Chazal may have been wrong in matters of science in certain instances. He made that observation after listening to a podcast called ‘Headlines’ hosted by Dovid Lichtenstein.
(On a side note, I happen to be a big fan of R’ Dovid. I was privileged to be a guest on one of his shows – via a phone interview. But more importantly, I was contacted by him long before he had his show where he told me that he agreed with much of what I wrote. While I’m sure we do not agree on everything – I believe there is very wide overlap of views. He is also very bright and very knowledge about Halacha as well as being a keen observer of the Orthodox Jewish scene. I believe that accounts for the success of his show. He is a very successful businessman, active in the Orthodox Jewish community and carries a lot of clout.)
Back to the particular show Rabbi Slifkin referenced. Three Charedi rabbis were interviewed on the subject of whether Chazal were fallible on matters of science. One of them was R’ Mendel Shafran of Bnei Brak. This is what Rabbi Slifkin said about him:
(Rav Shafran) gives a very reasonable approach. In a very memorable quote, he says, "My wife can make a better kugel than Moshe Rabbeinu, and it's not kefirah to say so!" He explains that it's not a deficiency for Chazal not to know something about science. This is a very important point that many people in the charedi world are unable to grasp, and it's refreshing to hear it being presented.
Unfortunately the other 2 Rabbis interviewed just doubled down on Rav Eliashiv’s view that adheres to the idea that Chazal never got anything wrong that they cited in the Gemarah. In those instances where it seems like they did, we probably don’t understand what they meant, or were using metaphysical concepts as allegories, or making other esoteric explanations.
Rabbi Slifkin senses, (and I agree) that the tide may be turning. And that the following may once again be perfectly acceptable belief - just as it was prior to R’ Eliashiv’s ban. The idea that Chazal’s knowledge of science was limited to the best available knowledge of their day. Had they been privy to the tools and technology we have today, they would certainly not have disagreed with what scientists revealed to be reality. And that it is even possible that the secular scientists of their day were more knowledgeable in scientific matters than they were. (As one Amorah cited by the Gemarah stated!)
As the Gemarah says, Im Amar Lecha, 'Yesh Chochma BaGoyim - Taamin. If someone tells you that there is wisdom among the gentiles - believe them!