Saturday 2 April 2011

Exaggerations in Halachic Literature

Originally published 4/2/11, 9:14 pm.
There is a set of individuals who vigilantly decry certain exaggerations found in Halachic Literature. For instance, terming a "D'rabbanan" as a "D'oraitto" or even treating a s'feiq d'rbbanan l'humra is beyond the pale. Describing a MINHAG as a Halachah is similarly protested .
Yet ironically (inconsistently?) many of this "kat" consider and state literally that the Bavli is a product of or has the authority of a Sanhedrin? How could this be?
It was neither a product of Eretz Yisrael [EY] nor of Musmachin from EY - in contrast to the Mishnah or the Yerushalmi! Any such designation MUST be a gross exaggeration!
Yet, indeed, we all acknowledge that the Bavli does often supersede the aforementioned potential products of a Sanhedrin! So the claim has merit, albeit not literal merit.
This reality, of exaggeration regarding the Bavli in turn calls into question the entire issue of exaggeration in general Halachic Literature, that indeed some d'rabbanans might be tantamount to d'oraitto and some Minhaggim tantamount to Halachah.


Shalom,
RRW

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