(c) Apr 18 2001 RashiYomi Inc. MY COLLECTED & INDEXED MAIL JEWISH POSTINGS-Ver #1
Individual Postings 1st appeared(& were copied in html form) on the Email List Mail Jewish

From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 23:55:02 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Rav Hirsch's Theory of Torah-Science-Art

Ken Miller in v31n94 cites Steve Bailey v31n79 who cites Rav Hirsch

<<< Hirsch notes in his Nineteen Letters that the same G-d who created
the universe also created the Torah. He is equally the Creator of both
the material universe and the ethical universe. So that the study of
science, music, art and literature -- reflecting human knowledge of the
world -- is studying that which is no less part of G-d's creation as the
Torah. >>>

There is then discussion by Ken on WHAT the study of (a) TOrah, (b) Natural
Law & (c) Man made art have in common as "studying Gods ways".

Actually I think it clear that studying Torah has a status of religious
study which eg requires a blessing. Studying Science or Art has NO such
status. (Ken then makes further distinctions between ART which is
man made and SCIENCE-the study of Nature, which was made by God.)

My understanding of Rav Hirsch's statement is that the METHODOLOGY by
which we study Science and (Man Made) Art is also the SAME METHODOLOGY
by which we SHOULD study the Torah. In particular one of Rav Hirsch's
great contributions to Torah learning is his magnificent study of
symbolism--Rav Hirsch used the scientific method (hypothesis testing
plus reproducable phenomena) to show that symbolic analysis of Torah
commandments can be done and yield the same reproducable results by
different people. Rav Hirsch tried to place symbolism on a scientific
basis which would make it more objective.

Rav Hirsch's beautiful theory of symbolism is outlined in his "Groundlines
of Jewish Symbolism" which can be found in Volume 3 of his collected
works translated by Feldheim. It is also found in Breuers Timeless Torah
Finally a short condensed summary will appear in my article "Gen 1 speaks
about the creation of prophecy not the creation of the world" which was
presented at the 3rd international conference on science and religion and
will appear in BOR HATORAH(A 4 page email version is available on request)

Russell Jay Hendel;Phd ASA; RHendel@Towson.Edu
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/