tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576585332526677688.post5418250175555638779..comments2024-03-28T06:54:57.473+02:00Comments on Kotzk Blog: 065) Halachic Attitudes towards Secular Studies: Rabbi Gavin Michalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14410541880380752479noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576585332526677688.post-49781810244935118562019-07-16T08:57:28.024+02:002019-07-16T08:57:28.024+02:00Thanks David,
My feeling is that, as you pointed ...Thanks David,<br /><br />My feeling is that, as you pointed out, opposition was always there but may have coalesced into a more organized form 'in earnest' around the time of the Rishonim.<br /><br />I asked your question to my friend Jack Bloom who is working on his doctorate on the period of the Hashmonaim and this is his thinking:<br /><br />"The big reaction against secular learning was after the Bar Cochba revolt as an emergency measure against assimilation, but it was subsequently relaxed. <br /><br />But even in secular circles, philosophical writings suffered a decline and ironically were only rediscovered in a big way in certain periods under the Muslims."Kotzk Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249905502266813412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576585332526677688.post-31624696520339296672019-07-15T15:08:07.824+02:002019-07-15T15:08:07.824+02:00"From around the 11th Century, the beginning ..."From around the 11th Century, the beginning of the period of the Rishonim, opposition to secular studies started manifesting in earnest. This was because in those days, the main portal through which one acquired secular knowledge was through the writings of Aristotle. And his philosophy promulgated ideas that ran contrary to those of Torah Judaism (particularly the principle of the eternity of the universe which negated the concept of creation, and also the principles opposing Divine providence and those antithetical to the reward and punishment concept).<br />"<br /><br />I don't get it. At the time of the hashmonaim, assimilation was rampant and yet even after hanuka there was no ban on greek studies ? Aristotles writings diapeared from the jews hands from hanuka until the rishonim era ??Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844738472417027662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576585332526677688.post-82752486253835627992015-12-04T20:16:20.933+02:002015-12-04T20:16:20.933+02:00I go by what the Vilna Gaon says.... I go by what the Vilna Gaon says.... scubeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03709759285754588686noreply@blogger.com