Torah u-Madda Revisited: The Editor’s Introduction

Abstract

Although Rabbi Bloch went on to take a dim view of the validity of secular knowledge, the openness with which he began his analysis of the issue is remarkable. At the very outset, he acknowledged that one cannot treat this matter as one would a strictly halakhic issue, offering a dearly definitive pesak applicable to all. On the contrary, he felt that it is inappropriate to make a blanket statement prohibiting all such activity. In fact, he explicitly acknowledged the validity of a subjective approach to this issue, arguing that one must first take into account "the conditions of time, place, circumstance and environment." 3 ¶ There is, indeed, no question that many great rabbinic scholars valued secular knowledge, pursued it and even integrated it into their halakhic and religious works. Writing in opposition to the Rashba's ban in 1305 against the study of philosophy before the age of twenty-five,.. (from Introduction)