Faith power: Prof. Halivni

Haretz has an article on Professor David Weis-Halivni.

My favourite quote:

"It is my personal tragedy that the people I daven (pray) with I cannot talk to and the people I talk to I cannot daven with. However, when the chips are down I will always side with the people I daven with. For I can live without talking, I cannot live without davening."

Comment: I was always impressed by Professor Halivni's ability to walk the tightrop between an almost outright denial of Torah's authenticity and  his dedication and personal committment to its teachings. His attempt to bring Oral Law in consonance with Written Law by positing the principle of Choto Yisroel, that Oral Law was passed down together with written Law and that it is the later that came down to us corupted, as per the historical-critical method) are totally unacceptable to believing Jews. HIs method of solving Talmudic issues by suggesting answers to Tannaitic contradictions that are contrary to those of the Gemoro itself is universally opposed, for it implies that we understand Tannaim better than the Amoriam did. At the same time, he is an erudite and caring Talmid Chacham. Great indeed must be his faith and wide indeed is his heart  for his spirit to be able to survive and not wither in the face of the relentless attacks from his cynical academic environment and his ciritical mind-work.

Such was the faith of the previous generation, the faith of Hungarian chassidic Jews of before the War, that no amount of Kefirah could sway or uproot.

Prof. Halivni as an 11 year-old child with his family.

Links: Hametivta

There is a link there to lectures. In the first lecture, Prof. Halivni explains his opinion on when to follow Rishonim and when one may not and gives examples.

Comments

[pierre]

I chased down the quote and posted briefly on it;

http://harherem.blogspot.com/2007/11/people-i-talk-to-i-cannot-daven-with.html