Torah U'Madda - Rabbi Anthony Manning

5773 - dbhbn ovrct5sxc22. It should be made clear that when we propose the hasidic or Madda-as-worship model of TuM based on thistenet of avodah begashmiut, we rule out any equality between avodah begashmiut and a formal mitzvah, andbetween Torah and Madda .... The pursuit of Madda without Torah is devoid of any innate Jewish significance.Hence in addition to requiring that Madda be pursued “for the sake of heaven” and in the spirit of awe andreverence recommended by the Talmud for talmud Torah, the religious legitimacy of Madda would require thatone spend a significant proportion of his time in the formal study of Torah.ibid p177-823. To vulgarise this concept .... as an excuse to minimize the study of Torah or to deny its centrality, eithertheoretically or functionally, is to distort it most deplorably.ibid p177-824. Nature, the world, must not be neglected, and it must be studied and explored as part of man’s relationshipwith his Maker. But Torah, as more than a creation of God, but His very word, ever remains supreme.ibid p14725. For Torah U’Madda to be religiously meaningful, it is essential that Torah be acknowledged as possessingcentral value and primacy over all else. Only when such centrality is affirmed does the enterprise of Maddabecome pregnant with meaning and the promise of sanctity ... Indeed, only if one is firmly planted within, in theinner precincts of Torah, will he or she spiritually flourish in the outer courtyards of Madda as well.ibid p20226. The primacy of Torah must be a given in any viable TuM approach. This precludes any version of TuM thattreats Torah as a form of human culture only.... .ibid p22F] TORAH U’MADDA - THE DANGERSR. Lamm’s philosophy of TuM has been much criticized. Some criticism is based on misunderstanding of his positionse.g. some say he places equal weight on Madda as on Torah, or that he is satisfied with minimal Torah - which is clearlywrong (see above). However, other criticism is based on the suggestion that the learning of outside world is (andperhaps always was) just too ‘treif’ to bring it into our lives. R. Lamm accepts this as a danger and a risk but argues thatit is a risk that must be taken. The alternative is an isolationism which which cause more long-term damage27. As attractive and spiritually edifying as this doctrine of worship through corporeality is, its is quite dangeroustoo .... It is replete with antinomian possibilities; taken too far, it can undermine the halacha ...ibid p17528. Whenever there is an encounter of sacred and profane, there must be anxiety, for who knows but that insteadof the kodesh converting the chol, the chol will master the kodesh .... He who enters into this dialogue of Torahand Wisdom must tremble at the risks inherent in it, even while acknowledging that it is his duty to undertakeit. Many religious casualties have already resulted from this historic program of TuM and there are more yet tocome.ibid p134-5