JEWISH CENSORSHIP & Dr. Michael Brown

http://sagavyah.tripod.com/id82.html#midrash

Rabbi Shmuel haNagid (993-1056 CE)'s intro. to the Talmud, as included in the 'Aiding Talmud Study' by Aryeh Carmell, from Feldheim Publishers:

Aggada [Aramaic: agadata]: everything mentioned in the Gemara [Talmud], which is not directly connected with the halakhic aspect of the commandment. One should learn from such statements ONLY those things which our minds can grasp. It is important to know that ALL MATTERS which our Sages established as LAW, in connection with the commandment transmitted by Moshe Rabbenu [Moses our teacher] who received it from the Almighty CANNOT be augmented or diminished in any way (see Deuteronomy 17:8-11)...

HOWEVER, the [aggadic] explanations they rendered of biblical verses were in accordance with their INDIVIDUAL VIEWS and the ideas WHICH OCCURRED to them. We should learn from them insofar as our minds can grasp them; but otherwise we SHOULD NOT build upon them."
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Rambam's 'Commentary to the Mishna' to Seder Nashim in Sanhedrin chapter 10 (pereq Hheleq) on page qof-mem-heh of Rabbi Yosef Qafehh's translation from the Arabic original:

"[gimal] We have already mentioned to you a number of times that all disagreements that are between Sages [hhakhamim] and that aren't (things) that are with regard to [that hang on] actions, (but) rather establish an opinion alone; there is no place to arrive at a legal conclusion / decision [leefsoq] in practical Jewish law [halakha] according to (any) one of them..."
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Abraham ben ha-Rambam's 'INTRO. TO THE AGADA' as included in
"EN JACOB" (Eheyn Ya'aqov) AGADA OF THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD, by Rabbi Jacob Ibn Chabib, revised and translated into English by R' S. H. Glick

"...And think not like those who do not grasp the real truth that every simple Derash or so-called allegorical explanation of the passage uttered by the sages, was handed over by tradition, like the principle parts of the Torah, because the fact is otherwise; that the explanation of such passages which do not involve either a dogma of a religious principle or any law of the Torah, has no traditional bearing, but was explained by the authors, merely according to their own (personal) knowledge and feeling;...

"...And many of them are used merely as figures of speech in a poetical style, or are explained in that poetical form. Thus I have no doubt that when R. Joshua said (Zebachim 116.) regarding the sentence (Ex. 18,1.) And Jethro heard. What did he hear? R. Joshua said, "the war of Amalek." 6) This is merely an opinion, not a tradition and is bringing of evidence to support his opinion proves that it is so, for in a tradition we need no evidence; furthermore, the fact that all other sages differ with him on this explanation proves this also;..."

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[sadiq1982]

Do you know what the traditional view is regarding the creation story? I"m studying religion in college and my textbook said this about Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and Noah. “For centuries, Jews have thought of them as historical figures. Now, however, influenced by the views of scholars, many Jews view them instead as symbolic.”

[omedyashar]

@sadiq1982  Those 'Jews' who view them as merely symbolic are generally not 'Jews' any more than an secular ethnic Arab is Muslim.

[Daibhidh464]

If Jesus has become an idol to the Egyptians, then the idol of Egypt dying really did atone for the sins of Israel, yes?

[omedyashar]

@Daibhidh464 Sacrificing (giving up) idolatry makes one right with God.

[7enoch77]

I'm a zealous Christian and I enjoyed the video very much, good job!

[sadiq1982]

@omedyashar I agree with you totally brother but your statement will not be sufficient for my professor. I need references if you have any. I used Sedar Olam Rabbah as proof so far. Do you know of any other sources that expounds on the Torah in general or even more so the creation story specifically.

[KingOystar]

the interesting thing is that now that I no longer try to reach G-d through an Idol I feel so much closer to G-d now.

[RabinoOtero]

Thank you!

[kanaiboded]

This is a halachic ruling made by Rav Shlomo Aviner, Rabbi of Beit El. Personally I´ve read the "NT" many times and I think it contains material worth thinking about. For us jews many asserions are not new and whats new in the "NT" it´s not jewish. The real problems started with Saul of Tarsus.

[moronthannot]

I love the way you recap what Rabbi Otero mentioned about the passover lamb and the way you explained the Christian's reliance upon the flesh and blood (the communion elements) for salvation and it's relationship to the verse in Jeremiah (17:5). I enjoyed this video a ton. (still haven't gotten to the prayer part, but will keep watching! =-)