Michael S. Tsirki
[Vol 3, N37] asks:
"...If you find in torah hints to the big bang theory-and
use it to
convince someone of the Torah's truth I'm afraid this person will
have BIG
problems believing you again when the theory changs(and you find
proofs
from the Torah for it too"
Let me rephrase the question: What value does Torah have for science if
the
science changes?
I answer this question in an article I wrote "Towards a Definition
of
Torah", in Proceedings of AOJS [Assoc. of Orthodox Jewish Scientists],
Vol. III-IV.
I present a simple distinction: You read a math book or biology book
to
ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE and CONTENT. But say you read a loveletter or go to
a
concert with your spouse NOT so much to ACQUIRE the KNOWLEDGE in the
letter
or to learn the music but rather you do these things in order TO
RELATE to
the person involved.
To say this distinction clearly in one act consider reading poetry:
An
English professor does it to master CONTENT. But a person reads
his
spouse's poetry to RELATE to the spouse. Similarly you might read
someone
elses poetry to relate to the spouse. Although you might be
interested in
the poem's content the primary goal is creating a
relationship.
Having introduced this distinction I then pose a halachic question: Is
the
learning of Torah a learning for CONTENT or for RELATING to G-d. In
the
article I give very strong arguments that the primary component of
learning
Torah is to RELATE to G-d. Here are some startling proofs:
* A well known Midrash says that the exile came because Jews didn't say
the
blessing on Torah before learning Torah. In other words even though
they
learned Torah they did it to master CONTENT and not to RELATE to G-d,
and
hence the exile came. We see from this that the purpose of learning
is
RELATIONSHIP with G-d.
* Another law says that if we have two identical Scrolls of Law,
one
written by a believer and one by a heretic then even though they
are
identical we burn the Sefer of the heretic but respect the Torah of
the
believer.
Clearly this law emanates from a "RELATION" view of Torah and learning.
A
math book written by a heretic is certainly valid for gaining content.
But
a loveletter written by an adulteress should be burnt since she
doesn't
(sincerely) want a relationship.
In the article I give 5 distinct ways that Torah and Science can relate.
I
also discuss whether learning content has some value (obviously it
does).
Thus the answer to Tsirkin's question is that when I find a hint of the
Big
bang in the Torah I am RELATING to G-d, and when I find a hint of
the
opposite theory I am also relating to G-d. To put in another way to
listen
to one composer this week and another composer next week has
RELATIONAL
value if I do it with my spouse since we enhance our relationship.
My
possible confusion on music or science content is irrelevant.
I hope this small insight enriches people's understanding of learning
Torah.
Russell Jay Hendel, Ph.d; ASA; rhendel @ mcs drexel edu