Political Questions Are Part of Torah

The Torah Trumps Trump

 ד׳ לחודש העשירי תשע״ז
U. S. President-Elect
Donald Trump

Don’t get me wrong.

The theoretically better candidate won the recent U. S. Presidential election. What bothers me is the insistence of Jews on the Left, as well as on the Right, to place their focus on human powers, and even more so, non-Jewish powers, for their salvation, instead of making an intellectually honest examination of what HaShem really wants from us, and then making it happen, to the best of our ability.

Halakhah (Torah Law) is not the rocket science many “rabbis” want us to think it is. This is not about different understandings and interpretations, and me pushing the ones I happen to like on you. We simply need to examine the [uncensored] sources, listen to refutations of them, and check which point of view stands up to scrutiny.

If we do this, using uncensored sources, and freeing ourselves from hashqafah (in this case: preconceived notions) and distorted notions, based on our feelings, then I believe it will be revealed to you

The Torah touches every aspect of our lives, not just “shabbos and kashrus shailos.” It covers everything from running a truly Jewish government, running a Jewish military, fighting a war in a Jewish manner, and relating to non-Jews, both in times of war and peace, whether Israeli politicians and their State “religious” yes men, like it or not.

There is no separating any particular aspects of our lives from Torah. We cannot call one thing halakhah, and another thing “politics,” letting so-called “rabbis” off the hook from their responsibility to teach the truth.

So, what does this all have to do with the outcome of the recent U. S. Presidential elections?

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From Esser Agaroth, here.

מה ללמוד מהרבי מקוצק?

ובאתי להזכיר פה, היות כי שמעתי שבזמן הזה עיקר עיון הצעירים בסברות, ולא בפשט ולא בבירור השיטות [כל שיטה ושיטה איך יפרש את הגמרא לפי שיטתו], ושתי אלה גם המה העיקר להלכה, ושמעתי ממורי חמי זצ”ל, שגם בזמנו התרעם על העולם אשר מעיינים מעט הלכה מניה וביה, ואותי הזהיר מאד לישא וליתן גם בפשט, כעין ספר המהרש”א וספר מהרשש”ך. ובספרי ימצא הרבה פלפולים גם בפשט ובבירור השיטות, בעזה”י.

– הקדמת ספר אגלי טל

King Solomon’s Gold-Bearing Trees

Shlomo planted trees “in” the Beis Hamikdash? On the Temple Mount?

אמר רבי אושעיא, בשעה שבנה שלמה את בית המקדש נטע בו כל מיני מגדים של זהב והיו מוציאים הפירות בזמניהם, וכשהרוחות מנשבין בהם נושרין שנאמר ירעש כלבנון פריו. וכשנכנסו כותים להיכל יבשו, שנאמר ופרח לבנון אומלל. ועתיד הקב”ה להחזירה, שנאמר פרח תפרח ותגל כבוד הלבנון נתן לה.

  • Yalkut Shim’oni Nachum 560

Isn’t it forbidden to “plant trees by the Mizbe’ach”?

 

Uncovering Original Intent in Torah

We have already written here strongly promoting the scientific or “realistic” approach to Torah study.
This method, lost with the demise of Chazal and Rishonim, has gained more adherents over time. But we still have a ways to go. For example, one clear rule is that the true meaning of any text is best gained by studying its earliest commentators (obvious exceptions notwithstanding). The closer to the era and spirit of the author(s), the better.
If we follow this rule, one should study Avos Derebbi Nosson when seeking to elucidate Mishna Avos. Right? Moreso, when faced with two possible interpretations, the one from Avos Derebbi Nosson ought to win out.
You already know what I’m going to ask: How often was this even attempted by the commentaries on Avos?