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CHAZALS SCIENCE

PART I. Its acceptable to say /teach that Chazals sc ientific statements are not necessarilyinaccurate.

R Sherira Gaon Teshuvos HaGaonim, no.394 [Harkaby]; Otzar HaGaonim, Gittin 68, Teshuvah#376]

Rambam Moreh Nevuchim 3:14R Avrohom benHaRambam

Maamar Al HaAgadot, printed in Hakdama to Ein Yaakov

Pachad Yitzchok

[R Lampronti]

Tzeidah Osurah

R Hirsch Maamar HaR Shimshon Rafael Hirsch Al Agados Chaza lR Dessle r Michtav MeiEl iyahu, Vol . 4, p.355 (footnote)R J.David Bleich He said that, perhaps, when contemporary science disagrees with Chazal about the

relative safety of a food, its due to Chazal using erroneous data contemporaneouswith them [Tradition 20:2]

R HershelSchachter

Said that my Kuntres with Sheetas Rabbenu Avrohom Ben HaRambam was fit for Pirsum and mentioned that I could even add Rav Hirschs statement that AgadosChazal are not binding

R ShlomoZalmanAuerbach

PART II. Its unacceptable to say [and/or teach] that any of Chazals scientific statements are

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CHAZALS SCIENCE

inaccurateRivash Teshuvos HaRivash #447 1

Rashba Teshuvos HaRashba #98; Mishmeres HaBayyis 4:1 2

Maharal Beer HaGolah, Beer HaShishi: [It] is forbidden to say that the Sages erred inmatters of science. [quoted by Rav Aharon Feldman]

The Leshem 3

Chazon Ish Koveitz Igros, Vol 1, Letter 15 [quoted by Rav Aharon Feldman]: Our traditionis that the shechita of someone who denies the truth of the Sages whether in theHalacha or Aggada (the non-halachic parts) of the Talmud is disqualified just as issomeone who is a heretic; Five Great Leaders, p.377 n.1: In his halachic writings,the Chazon Ish reveals his expertise in astronomy, geography, mathematics, andother areas of general knowledge. He would stress that such wisdoms were known toChazal not from secular sources, but by way of Ruch HaKodesh. He stronglycondemned a certain works contention that an astronomic theory found in theTalmud was adopted from the teachings of the ancient secular world.

R Elyashiv 1 st Letter of R Aharon Feldman re R Nosson Slifkin, 2005, where he (R Elyashiv)states that we may not teach that Chazal could err in science. 4

1 Cited by Rav Aharon Feldman. Rav Yehuda Levi says that the Rashba and the Rivash here refer only to halakhah received fromSinai. [Torah and Science, p.226]2 Ibid .

3 Given that Agaddos Chazal are Divrei Elokim Chayyim, does that include scientific accuracy, or is it limited to spiritual accuracy?4

R Feldman states that R Elyashiv holds that the views cited by R Slifkin [re Chazals science and re the age of the universe] areApikorsus; some say they are confident that this is an overstatement by R Feldman and that all R Elyashiv wants is that it not betaught in Beis Yaakovs; R Belsky said all R Elyashiv wants is that it should not be taught publicly; R Feldman himself had writtenearlier that R Elyashiv was surprised when he saw that the ad said they were Sifrei Kefirah.