Comments on: Five big Hartman ideas

By: Gil Reich

Gil Reich — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:36:01 +0000

Fantastic, thank you. The one place I was disappointed was the closing sentences. From what you (and others) wrote, I think Rav Hartman would have disagreed that what we leave behind is our da'at, in any of those definitions. What he left behind is more of a struggle, a process, a framework, a love, a commitment. I don't have the words. But we overly limit ourselves, and him, if we cling to his wisdom, attainment, and uniqueness. I always love the line "I seek not to emulate the masters. I seek what they sought." Everything you wrote about Rav Hartman doubles my commitment not to cling to him or his teachings, but to use him as a model and inspiration to continue our eternal loving struggle with the words of G-d.

By: Gil Reich

Gil Reich — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:36:01 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:17:46 +0000

His comment about a view of Shulchan Aruch concerning only kashrus etc. reminded me of Rabbi Professor Samuel Rosenblatt who used to refer to this limited Judaism as 'pots and pantheism'. This was one step in rebuilding post-war Diaspora Jewish life, followed by building Jewish schools, yeshivahs and kollelim.

By: Paul Gross

Paul Gross — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:33:07 +0000

Thank you for distilling these teachings so succinctly. I heard all of these message and more in shiurim I attended of Rabbi David Hartman's. Reading this I can still hear his passionate, often even angry, outbursts against those who (mis)used the tradition to propagate racism, narrow-mindedness and irrationality.

By: Paul Gross

Paul Gross — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:33:07 +0000