Don't Celebrate Ignorance
The Value of Life-Long Inquiry and Study
Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein
In the loving memory of
Alta Shula Swerdlov
And in honor of their daughter
Yetta Alta Shula, "Aliyah" Schottenstein
A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance. -- Saul Bellow
Light travels faster than sound. That's why most people seem bright until you hear them speak. -- Author Unknown
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." – Albert Einstein.
“Inquire he inquired”
In many editions of the Hebrew Bible, an interesting comment is inserted into the book of Leviticus, in this week’s Torah portion (Shemini). In between the words "inquire he inquired" ("derash" and "derash" in the original Hebrew) it is written: "Half of the words of the Torah."
What this means is that these words—“inquire he inquired”—mark the halfway point of a word count in the Torah. The first “inquire” completes the first half of the five books of Moses; the second “inquire” begins the second half of the Torah (1).
Biblical commentators, sensitive to the fact that even minor, seemingly coincidental aspects of the Torah, contain layers of significance, address the symbolism behind the fact that the halfway point of Torah is between these words “inquire he inquired.” One of the beautiful explanations is given by one of the great Chassidic masters (2).
He suggests that the Bible is attempting to teach us that the entire Torah—both halves of it—revolves around inquiry, the search to learn, grasp and internalize the truths and perspectives of Torah. To be Jewish is to forever remain a student of Torah wisdom (3).
“Inquire did he [Moses] inquire”—this is the center point of Torah, because Moses himself, the extraordinary scholar and prophet, never ceased to inquire and search (4). Moses knew that the most essential component necessary to absorb Torah is our never ending yearning and readiness to continuously study, explore and seek knowledge. Moses realized that after all of his discoveries, he had only reached the middle of Torah, and there was much more ahead which he had not yet learned.
This message is vital for Jews today.
Ignorant Spokesmen
Some time ago I was invited to attend a symposium sponsored by the UJA Federation about Jewish continuity. One of the presenters suggested that we introduce a reformation in Jewish observance in order to make the religion more appealing to the youth.
When it came my turn to address the audience, I begged to differ with the above presenter. His argument, I suggested, was refuted by the undisputed fact that the only ones who managed to maintain their Jewish numbers and even increase them dramatically were those who opposed reformation in Jewish observance. Perhaps our youth is searching not for reformation but for the Judaism taught and practiced by Rabbi Akiva, Rashi, Maimonidies and the Baal Shem Tov? Perhaps what was necessary was not a diluted form of Judaism, but rather a more intense presentation of a Judaism saturated with spiritual passion, authentic idealism, profound scholarship and personal relevance?
Later, in private conversation, I asked the presenter if he could name the 53 portions of the Five Books of Moses and the titles of the 63 tractates of the Talmud, the most basic body of Jewish law and literature. From memory he could only name 10 of the biblical portions and not one of the Talmudic tractates.
“Imagine,” I said to him, “we would be attending a symposium on Shakespeare, and one of the lectures on how Shakespeare ought to be taught to youths today would be presented by an individual ignorant of the titles of Shakespeare’s 38 plays? Or imagine a symposium on the future of philosophy, where one of the speakers was not well versed in The Republic, the Critique of Pure Reason or Beyond Good and Evil? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing to the subject they are discussing?"
He said to me that in his opinion one did not need to be well versed in Torah in order to present an argument on the future of Judaism.
Why is Judaism seen as such an inferior discipline, that it does not demand rigorous mastery? Why is it that in the fields of biology, science, art or history nobody would dare present strong opinions about their futures without intensely studying these subjects for years? Why do so many Jews think that Judaism—a tradition taught and developed over three millennia, consisting of tens of thousands of volumes, many of them written by some of the greatest human minds—is a set of archaic laws and cute rituals?
Perhaps the saddest commentary about Jewish life in America is that so many leaders of mainstream Jewish organizations and institutions did not send their own children to Jewish schools, depriving them from a serious Jewish education.
How sad. They see themselves as Jewish leaders and activists; yet they don’t even entertain the thought that Jewish tradition has anything truly valuable to teach them and their children about life, death and everything in between. The greatest obstacle to discovery, a wise man once said, is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
The Torah, the profoundest blueprint for life ever articulated in the history of humanity, belongs to every single Jew (5). It is about time, that every member of our people gives himself or herself the gift of discovering its unparalleled beauty and wisdom.
This is the reason we created TheYeshiva.net, where various ongoing free courses on Torah study are offered, both for advanced students as well as beginners. Our first course in Talmud for Beginners, which continues this Wednesday evening, attracted a lovely group of students globally. Same with the other courses, a list of which you will see on top of this email. I hope you will seize the opportunity to challenge your mind and broaden your horizons. We stop living when we stop inquiring.
1) Leviticus 10:16. See Talmud Kedushim 30a: The early [scholars] were called sofrim because they used to count all the letters of the Torah. Thus, they said, the vav in gahon (Leviticus 10:42) marks half the letters of the Torah; darosh darash (Leviticus 11:16) half the words. See Penei Yehousah to Talmud ibid.; Chasam Sofer and Torah Shlaimah to the verse in Leviticus, who discuss the apparent flaw in the count.
2) Degel Machane Ephrayim to Leviticus 10:16.
3) See Joshua 8:1: “You shall toil in it [in the study of Torah] during the day and the night.”
4) See the commentary of Or Hachaim on the verse.
5) See Sanhedrin 59a. Rambam the Laws of Talmud Torah chapter 3.
creation of yeshiva.net
Can\'t be in a Kolel, but enjoying so so much the time I could learn with you, and in the same time, cooking or doing lundgry...
So thank you the" yeshiva.net
Thank You
judaism observance
Although you belittle the presenter for his lack of Torah and Talmud scholarship, you make the mistake of most human beings. You belittle someone. The Rebbe always built people up. I am not dissing you. I am reminding you of your duty to accept your fellow Jew, not belittle him. When you belittle him, you belittle Him Above.
I do appreciate your words. I also appreciate that Israel is more secular than observant. That the soldiers are more secular than observant. That kibbutzim are more secular than observant. That the secular Haganah and Irgun and politicians are responsible for bringing the state of Israel into nationhood, and protecting it to this day.
In conclusion, your message is going to reach those who are interested, and rejected by the majority who are not. Personally, you lost me when you attacked the previous presenter. This is what turns off our youth. Jews need cohesion far more than they need religion. But don\'t worry about me. I will continue my religious journey with or without you.
Right to the point!!!
To Mordi "judaism observance"
Jewish education
However, what I find more disturbing is that the Jewish educational system itself is often sorely lacking in information and inspiration.
Being a baal tshuvah, I know that I am ignorant and try to fill the vast void at sites such as this. I fear that many of our much better educated children feel they already know and were not inspired by what they learned. I know we can do better as evidenced by this site and Chabad.org. I truly appreciate what you do. Jewish educators - take note before it\'s too late!
The power of authenticity
I first attended Conservative shul. Their siddur was English. Then I attened Orthodox shul. I was presented a authentic Chabad Davening. Though I did not understand it at all, I was struck by the beauty of Hebrew davening. And eventually, I ordered a Chabad Siddur for myself, first with English transtation. Now, I daven without translation, and can not daven in English.
Future of Judaism
Check out the frum shuls which are packed with young people excited about their Judiasm.
Thank you for this site. I agree with first comment- wish i had time to listen to and study all of the classes.
May hash-m give you strength and resources to continue.
Goral