10-17-2025, 01:21 PM
in the fictional novel the Source there is a Ultra orthodox rabbi who claims he would even go aginst a commandant of the L-d. What does rabbainc though have to say about such at attitude?
The fictional rabbi's attitude would be viewed as arrogant and misguided because it misunderstands the fundamental role of a rabbi and the nature of Jewish law.
The bedrock of rabbinic authority
Rabbinic thought is founded on the belief that Jewish law (Halakha) comes from God and was transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai as both the written Torah and the Oral Torah. The role of the rabbis is not to invent or override divine law but to interpret and apply it for each generation.
Interpretation, not negation: According to rabbinic tradition, the Torah explicitly states, "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor diminish from it" (Deuteronomy 13:1). A rabbi's authority comes from the mandate to "judge according to the law" as received from the tradition, not to nullify it.
The system of Halakha: Jewish law is a complex system of interpretation built on a continuous chain of legal decisions since Sinai. Rabbinic disagreements are seen as differing opinions on how to apply divine principles, not arguments against the divine principles themselves
Why the fictional rabbi's claim is unsound
The fictional rabbi's claim that he would "even go against a commandment" of God suggests a profound misunderstanding of his role.
Arrogance: A rabbi who claims this is exhibiting arrogance (y'hirut), exceeding the limits of his authority. His job is to be humble and uphold the law, not to place his personal judgment above God's.
Misplaced authority: True rabbinic authority comes from a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the Torah and its interpretive traditions, which reinforce, not contradict, the commandments. The fictional rabbi's claim is the opposite of this foundational principle.
Not a religious statement: Such a declaration would not be viewed as a righteous or spiritual act within Jewish thought. Instead, it would be seen as undermining the entire foundation of the Oral and Written Torah.
The fictional rabbi's attitude would be viewed as arrogant and misguided because it misunderstands the fundamental role of a rabbi and the nature of Jewish law.
The bedrock of rabbinic authority
Rabbinic thought is founded on the belief that Jewish law (Halakha) comes from God and was transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai as both the written Torah and the Oral Torah. The role of the rabbis is not to invent or override divine law but to interpret and apply it for each generation.
Interpretation, not negation: According to rabbinic tradition, the Torah explicitly states, "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor diminish from it" (Deuteronomy 13:1). A rabbi's authority comes from the mandate to "judge according to the law" as received from the tradition, not to nullify it.
The system of Halakha: Jewish law is a complex system of interpretation built on a continuous chain of legal decisions since Sinai. Rabbinic disagreements are seen as differing opinions on how to apply divine principles, not arguments against the divine principles themselves
Why the fictional rabbi's claim is unsound
The fictional rabbi's claim that he would "even go against a commandment" of God suggests a profound misunderstanding of his role.
Arrogance: A rabbi who claims this is exhibiting arrogance (y'hirut), exceeding the limits of his authority. His job is to be humble and uphold the law, not to place his personal judgment above God's.
Misplaced authority: True rabbinic authority comes from a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the Torah and its interpretive traditions, which reinforce, not contradict, the commandments. The fictional rabbi's claim is the opposite of this foundational principle.
Not a religious statement: Such a declaration would not be viewed as a righteous or spiritual act within Jewish thought. Instead, it would be seen as undermining the entire foundation of the Oral and Written Torah.