Philosophical Topics

1. How do we know G-d gave us the Torah?

   1. Just believe � but then what is the difference between us and other religions?

   2. There were a lot of people at Mount Sinai � but it only says there were a lot of people there in the Torah, so how can we use the Torah as a proof when we don�t know the Torah exists?

   3. Mesorah � But there is mesorah in other generations too, so why are we different?

2. Who created the world?

3. What is our purpose in life?

4.  What is G-d capable of? (Ex: Can G-d create a stone He can�t lift?)

5. Olam Habah

• What is the difference between philosophy and Halacha?

      Philosophy is the basis of Judaism (Torah, thoughts and knowledge), where halacha is purely facts.

• Questions on Psukim in Tanach
  1. �G-d rested on the 7^th day� � What does it mean G-d rested? He can�t rest; he has to take care of the world!
  2. �G-d created the world� � how did He create the world? What is nothing?
  3. �Because I hardened his (pharaoh) heart� � How can He take away Pharaoh�s freedom of choice and then punish him for it?
  4. �Angels� � What is an angel? Did Loat really see them�
  5. Abraham talked with Hashem to save Sedom � Is it possible to discuss with G-d?
  6. At Mount Sinai they saw G-d � Is it possible to see G-d?

• Why do we need to learn Philosophy?
  1. So relationship with G-d is more meaningful

      Why do people daven/pray?

                  a) Feel the need to

                  - Fear of G-d = reward and punishment

                  - To speak/ converse with G-d

                  - To have a purpose

                  b) To maintain a relationship w/ G-d (ask for pity, forgiveness�)

                  c) Because parents, teachers and Rabbis tell us to

2. To obtain knowledge
3. because Philosophy strengthens your connection to mitzvoth (philosophy brings you to doing mitzvoth)

Opposition to learning Philosophy

1. Its better to have blind faith (better not to ask questions)
2. People leave Judaism if don�t find the answers they want
3. Better to focus on learning of Torah and Talmud than philosophy
4. The Rashba wrote a letter that banned the learning of Greek books and science (excluding medicine). This included a ban on philosophy. They were not able to learn it until they were �25� because before that age don�t have a basis of Torah to not stray when learn philosophy. (ban not applicable today)

13 Principles of Faith

 �I believe�.� It is a list of thirteen fundamentals of everyday life. (unclear who wrote it) Not disputed that there are principles of faith or that these are important but some dispute what they are.

Rambam wrote a preface to a Mishnah that talks about these [principles but not in format �I believe.�

Re-written in easier �I believe� format later on.

(Albo believes that there are only 3 principles �

1) There is a g-d

2) there are prophets because that is how we got the torah

3) reward and punishment)

Existence of G-d (1)

• Normally, when describe G-d say great, all- knowing, pitiful, king�. But Rambam says no describe him as CREATOR OF THE WORLD.

Q -Why does the Rambam describe G-d as this?

A - All the other adjectives we used (great, pitiful) can also be used to describe mankind, But Hashem is greater then man. Also, if created the world has control over all the other descriptions.

      But man can also create things?

      Yes, but man creates something from something that already pre-existed, where     G-d creates something from nothing

G-d created existence and existence is dependent on him. He is not dependent on anything.

Knowing and believing: In the Mishnah Torah it says that one needs to know there is a G-d (Hashem) and in Peirush Mishnayotit says you have to believe there is a G-d (Hashem)�.how can these co-exist?

1. You need both � But how can you believe if you know???
2. For things that you are able to know, you should know and for things that you need to just believe, you should believe. 0 But this isn�t talking about THINGS but about one THING: Existence of G-d
3. (correct answer) Different levels for different people. Some go from�
   1. belief � you need belief first
   2. knowledge � then you come to knowing

According to Ramba how do you get to the level of knowing?

Through science because once you see how complex things are come to understanding that need a G-d.

Rav Yehuda HaLevi asks why does the pasuk say �I am your G-d that took you out of Egypt� instead of I am your G-d that created the world? Isn�t creating the world greater then taking out of Egypt?

He answers this is because Jews so G-d taking them out of Israel so can relate better (will discuss further later).

Ibin Ezra says on this topic that there are 3 levels of Faith:

1. Faith because your Rabbis tell you to believe (others influence you)
2. Faith because you read it in the Torah
3. Belief because you came to the discovery on your own (through science)

            Why is this best?

            Because YOU believe and have your OWN basis � firsthand experience (not         based on blind faith)

Picture of man � bullet, weapons, person, choice, loss of blood = chain of events

What source is causing the planets to revolve around the sun in a regular pattern?

Two opinions: One was that there is no end and no beginning and the other is that eventually there was a first cause.

Rambam agrees with opinion number one

Oneness of Hashem (2)

There are three possible definitions for the word �one�:

1. one not two (#)
2. one as in whole and without parts (unity)
3. Unique�.nothing like it (special)

When it says �shema yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad� it is talking about all three definitions.

How come in this Principle then does Rambam only talk about way one and two and not way three?

Because he talks about how G-d is special in principle number one and also when follow way 1 and 2, way 3 is implied.

Hashem is not like man that has parts and not like a man one is spiritual and one is physical. (know which is which).

If  G-d has no body parts, then why is the Torah constantly describing G-d as having a �strong hand��.?

If G-d is  Physical then He is limited because He is dependent no his parts in order to �exist� but we previously came to the conclusion that G-d created all and He therefore created emotions�..so term �exist� would not be possible.

            Being physical = imperfection

Therefore the Torah gives G-d human attributes in order to make it easier for us to relate to him. So uses something that we are capable of understanding. (also makes more interesting)

Rav Sadya says that IF G-d had feelings it would mean he didn�t create them because that which you create you can�t have. So this says that He didn�t have them previously which means He doesn�t need them.

(What�s the main difference between a church and a shul?

In a church there are images that are worshipped such as an image of their god himself because they believe god can be physical (previously proved that Jews believe G-d can�t be physical = limitations). Where in a church, there are no pictures or images.)

Two proofs of Rambam that Hashem is not physical:

1. �Hashem our G-d is in the heavens above and the ground underneath��G-d is in two places at once and �physically� can�t be in two places at once.
2. At Mount Sinai says the Jews �did not see an image��. Bnei Yisrael did not see Hashem

Since we don�t know how to explain something that is not physical we use METAPHORS describing G-d as physical to understand.

Examples:        Eyes � He knows/sees all

                        Hand � He has control and strength over everything

                        He rides � Control (when ride an animal control it)

PG. 40 in text book

• We know what Hashem is not but we don�t know what He is
• We CAN�T understand Hashem

Since we don�t know Hashem, we can�t praise Him (because no basis for praise), but we praise G-d everyday????

When praise G-d the greatest praise is to recognize that you�re incapable of praising him. (�lech dimyeh tehila�)

Two things learn:

1.      We don�t praise Hashem but we praise His actions

2.      �Kel gadol dibor vinorah� Since we have the need to praise G-d but cannot say anything incorrect we say what Moses said and only that.

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