Full Version: shelah on chumras
I just finished reading Yom-Tov Lipman Heller: Portrait of a Seventeenth Century Rabbi which I got at the YU sforim sale for 17! (Its a bio of the Tosfos Yom Tov.) The author, in a footnote, mentions the Shelah's shita on chumras. I looked it up and its amazing. He basically says that each generation must be increase its chumras to fight an ever growing build up of tumah in the world. How do I post the file (a copy of the peice of the Shelah?)Click to view attachment
save it as .gif, not .bmp, and re-upload.
The Tzemech Tzedek (I believe) gave a similar answer. Someone asked him how it can be that previous generation did things that for us today would be considered an issur gamur. Could it be that the tzadakim of generations past would engage in activities that would one day be considered as treif as chazir??
He answered that the neshomos back then were on a much higher level and could "elevate" and work with things that we are unable to effectively deal with. Once something becomes impossible to elevate it becomes assur. In other words it is the GAVRA, not the Cheftza. There is nothing inherently wrong or "treif" with such things, the problem is that WE due to our low spiritual level can't handle them....
He answered that the neshomos back then were on a much higher level and could "elevate" and work with things that we are unable to effectively deal with. Once something becomes impossible to elevate it becomes assur. In other words it is the GAVRA, not the Cheftza. There is nothing inherently wrong or "treif" with such things, the problem is that WE due to our low spiritual level can't handle them....
QUOTE (motcha @ Feb 16 2008, 10:21 PM) 
I just finished reading Yom-Tov Lipman Heller: Portrait of a Seventeenth Century Rabbi which I got at the YU sforim sale for 17! (Its a bio of the Tosfos Yom Tov.) The author, in a footnote, mentions the Shelah's shita on chumras. I looked it up and its amazing. He basically says that each generation must be increase its chumras to fight an ever growing build up of tumah in the world. How do I post the file (a copy of the peice of the Shelah?)Click to view attachment
Very interesting, thanks.
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What is the basis for saying that there is more tumah in the world now than in the previous generation?
QUOTE (Moshi @ Feb 17 2008, 06:14 PM)
What is the basis for saying that there is more tumah in the world now than in the previous generation?
The Democratic Party???
QUOTE (Moshi @ Feb 17 2008, 12:14 PM)
What is the basis for saying that there is more tumah in the world now than in the previous generation?
I don't question the Shelah. The Shelah itself is a source.
At the same time, the idea of yeridas hodoros, degeneration of each generation spiritually, is in the gmarah. I loaded it here asa a gif.
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