Gil Student Thanks God For Modern Orthodoxy

R. Gil Student, exasperated with pronouncements of gedolim disparaging science, thanks God for Modern Orthodoxy. The crux of Gil's journey begins in high school with a question: Was the entire text of the Talmuds and Mishna given to Moses at Mount Sinai, or were the principals of the Oral Law given without the text itself, a much more tenable proposition. Gil notes that he has been told in the name of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, that the entire text of the Mishna and the Talmuds were given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai. Perhaps Chabad would like to discuss this point at their upcoming conference on Torah and Science.

Comments

[Ariel Sokolovsky]

By the grace of G-d
Shalom uBrocha!
The Rebbe King Moshiach Shlit"a said exactly the opposite that Moshe got the writen Torah and the rules to interpret it and the oral Torah was interpreted by the prophets/sages of the following generations till it was writen down. The Rebbe was criticized for saying this (even though this is very common sense and is in accordance with the opinion of the Rambam for example and is alluded to in the Midrash ) by Rav Shach...
It's possible that there is some Sicha adressed to small kids (same small 5year old kids who the Rebbe said are to be taught according to Rashi "literal hand of Hashem" ) which Gil is alluding to that says like you say ...
Shmaryahu would do well to read some Chabad book on education something like Principles of Education and guidance by the Previous Rebbe store.kehotonline.com/index.php?stocknumber=EFR-PRINEG&deptid=&parentid=&page=1&itemsperpage=10
or Educators handbook by Rabbi Hodakov
store.kehotonline.com/index.php?stocknumber=EO-EDUC&deptid=&parentid=&page=1&itemsperpage=10
at least you'll understand the Rebbes aproach before making fun of it.
With respect and blessing.
Rabbi Ariel Sokolovsky
Moshiach Info Center International
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ChabadTravel.com
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Yechi Yehovah Tsidkeinu!

[Shmarya]

I was told both by Chabad rabbis that God gave the entire Oral Torah to Moshe at Sinai but that it was not passed down (except perhaps to a select few) except for the general rules. The implication is the Tanaim and Amoraim 1500 to 2000 years later had discussions and appeared to be doing so independently, but, in fact, each word they spoke was inspired by God and therefore our Talmuds closely conform to the "Talmuds" given Moshe on Sinai, with only "minor" transmission errors.

[Dovid]

In this case, Ariel is correct, I learnt this sicha once, I will get a source as soon as I can.

Cheers,
Dovid

[Judaism Jewish Torah]

See this link forThe Oral Tradition audio series, A four part lecture presenting the oral tradition: A well defined, efficient and structured system, as taught through the ages by our sages.

[ma rabbi]

The Talmud tells us "kol ma shetalmid vosik asa lechadesh nemra lMoshe bSinai" The Alter Rebbe says that all the Rishonim and Achronim up until and including the Shach and the Taz wrote their works with Ruach Hakodesh.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

Which Torah text - the redacted one we have from R. Ezra, or the version(s) we lost?

Which Mishna, the one we have or the First Mishna (referred to in the current text, but lost as a complete text)?

Which Gemora - Bavli or Yerushalmi? Which versions, with what text changes?

Which commentaries where written with "Ruach Hakodesh", and which were just wannabes?

[David Kelsey]

I don't care who had Ruach Hakodesh when. Chicken is still parve.