Re: Bugs growing in fruit?
Question
Dear Rabbi Abadi, I believe what you mean is the fact that scientists, until a few hundred years ago, believed that insects, like leeches, were born in an apple, for instance, or a raw piece of meat. Thus, the Rabbis said that since this is really part of the fruit, its permitted to be eaten. However, many experiments, such as the experiment, disproved the "spontaneous generation" theory, and did so by placing one piece of meat in a sealed bag and another was left out in the open. After a few days, the meats were inspected, and only the one left ouside was infested with leeches and flies. This proved that the bugs really came from outside. Getting to my question... Why is it Apikursus to say that the Rabbis made a mistake? They applied Halacha to the science of their time, and it turns out that the science was wrong. But why is that any bit of a detriment to the reliability of the rabbis? After all, they are expected to be experts in halacha, not science. Moreover, what about the Rambam in Yesodei Hatorahh, perakim 3 and 4, where he discusses Aristotalean physics that we know to be false. Is Aristototle really correct and all the evidence that proves otherwise is made up? Or is the Rambam merely saying that one is commanded to know physics. Please expalain fully, and thanks for your time and tremendous effort, as always. P.S. Does it say in the Torah that these bugs really grow in fruit, or is this taught by the Rabanan? Clearly that would change everything, as the Torah is Divinely inspired. If so, please disregard my whole argument, and please expalin a way, if there is any, to expalin the apparent contradiction, or expand on the idea that there once were bugs like this, but things changed within a matter of 1000 years.
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiFirst of all, just because the particular bug or fruit that was experimented with came from the outside, is not a proof that such a concept does not & did not exist. The Apikores is the one that so desperately wants to believe that the Rabbis were wrong, so he takes these type experiments as a proof, when they only prove that specific bug in that fruit. The Gemara says that Rabbi Yochanan was teaching his students that when the Moshiach comes God will take a precious stone that was very large, like maybe 30 Amot by 30 Amot, and he'll cut out a doorway of twenty Amot by 10, and he'll use it at the entrance to the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) or around there. One student thought that this was ridiculous, but he didn't say anything. One day this student was travelling and he was lost at sea. He ended up at a place where he saws angels carrying, cutting, and preparing these huge precious stones. He asked them what are these for, and they said the Beit Hamikdash. He was fascinated. Eventually he was back in Israel and he saw Rabbi Yochonon teaching his students. He went over to him and said, "Rabbi, you go on teaching, because you know what you're talking about." Rabbi Yochonan inquired as to the meaning of this, and he explained about his journey. Upon hearing this, Rabbi Yochanan scolded him,, and said, "until you saw it you didn't believe it?! You are doubting the words of our Rabbis! The point here is that we are not allowed to second guess our Rabbanim. This is the Yetzer Harah feeding us with Garbage. Yes, even sometimes a Rabbi makes a mistake, but to begin doubting the accuracy of anything they say, is not allowed and not correct. You say the Torah is Divinely inspired. What about the Gemara?! What about our Rishonim?! What about the Shulchan Aruch, the RAM"A, the GR"A, etc... Be careful! Keep away from this Apikorsut! In Mishley it says, "I find a woman more bitter than death." The woman is actually refering to "Minut." Which is this lack of belief or even just modifications and limitations to beliefs. This, King Solomon found more bitter than death. These people in the Gemara were able to bring dead people back to life and our stupid scientists today know more than them?! AA