I just finished writing exams, (hence there being no post for the last 2 days, due to studying). As a prelude to my upcoming posts on Faith, Doubt and Heresy, I would just like to paste a pertinent quote that will serve as a backdrop for further discussion for these as well as other related topics. The quote is from "The Hopelessness of a Ban (TTP-173) by : Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo" and can be found here.
It is well known that the heretic Uriel Da Costa (1585-1640) from Amsterdam was several times put under a ban by the leaders of the Portuguese Spanish Synagogue in Amsterdam and consequently committed suicide. Concerning this most unfortunate and tragic case the famous sage Rabbi Baruch Halevi Epstein, author of the Torah commentary Torah Temima made the following comment:
‘This phenomenon, to our sadness, seems to repeat itself in every generation. Whenever people quarrel over matters related to ideology and faith, and a person discovers his more lenient opinion is in the minority, all too often although his original view differed only slightly from the majority the total rejection he experiences pushes him over the brink. Gradually, his views become more and more irrational and he becomes disgusted with his opponents, their Torah and their practices, forsaking them completely. Instead of instructing him (Da Costa) with love and patience and extricating him from his maze of doubts by showing him his mistake, they disparaged him. They pursued him with sanctions and excommunication, cursing him until he was eventually driven away completely from his people and his faith and ended his life in a most degrading way (Makor Baruch, chapter 13;5.)’
‘This phenomenon, to our sadness, seems to repeat itself in every generation. Whenever people quarrel over matters related to ideology and faith, and a person discovers his more lenient opinion is in the minority, all too often although his original view differed only slightly from the majority the total rejection he experiences pushes him over the brink. Gradually, his views become more and more irrational and he becomes disgusted with his opponents, their Torah and their practices, forsaking them completely. Instead of instructing him (Da Costa) with love and patience and extricating him from his maze of doubts by showing him his mistake, they disparaged him. They pursued him with sanctions and excommunication, cursing him until he was eventually driven away completely from his people and his faith and ended his life in a most degrading way (Makor Baruch, chapter 13;5.)’
This upcoming series of posts is something that I have being wanting to do for a long time, so G-d willing there will be some posts for you the readers, over the next few days and weeks. Stay tuned and please keep commenting. I have read all the comments and have appreciated all the praise, insight and references. Keep it up
Hi,
First time i check your blog, so far so good.
In your last article in faith you have a link to a quote from Cardoso but it doesnt work. Do you know here else can i find it?
Kind Regards