New Paradigms for new Times

Rav Kook L’Nevuchei HaDor 2

When sages such as Rav Saadya Gaon and the Rambam saw that books were being written which raised doubts and sowed confusion about the fundamentals of Torah they toiled to remove the confused from their confusion and straighten the path before the people of their time. They wished to demonstrate that true logic cannot contradict the precepts of the Torah, not one single word, and at times some of those authors were able to discern deep principles of Torah which did us the favor  of enabling us to understand a true point of Torah.

From their time until know the number of ideas has increased and new knowledge has infringed on belief until those who are superficial find new confusion for which the old answers no longer suffice, as they were not written to address today’s issues.

It is therefore incumbent upon the true scholars of today to follow in the path of the earlier sages and to be concerned about those who are confused. They need to broaden their knowledge in the state of current research findings and to show how it can all be understood through the prism of Torah. Undoubtedly, all those who strive to this end with a pure heart will find their efforts to be successful.

There is a lot of work to be done. In addition to the need to comprehend new ideas that can be shared with others, especially the younger ones who are influenced by science, so they are not confused because they have a new understanding of the principles of Torah, it is also necessary to share with them the wisdom of belief that was developed by the Rishonim. And even though there are found in the writings of Rav Saadia Gaon, the Rambam, the Kuzari and others ideas that are incompatible with modern ways of thinking those who are superficial assume that by negating certain non-essential details in their works it proves that even the essential ideas are unreliable, when, in reality, they are predicated upon solid roots that are eternal.

Therefore, it is necessary to engage in clarifying the principles so they are in sync with modern research so that our generation will know how to exit confusion and be complete with the belief in the perfect Torah, while giving a nod to the different discoveries of the sciences.