Square
“besides for the fact that chiddush ha’olam is mentioned in the brachos instituted by the anshei knesses hagedolah”
It doesnt neccesarily mean what you (ie the Nefesh Hachaim) say it does. After all we also say “chok nossan velo yaavor”
And even if it does, doesnt the fact that we say it everyday show the opposite of what you identify as a tennet of faith. you say in the OP “that there is nothing to be taken for granted, and teva is as much a neis as a neis nigleh,”
so how can we say “Hamechadesh bechol yom…” Isnt that “taking it for granted” From the Beracha you see exactly the opposite of your question. We DO take for granted that what existed yesterday exists today. You didnt say in davening “If Hashem wants he is mechadesh bechol yom and if not not, there is just no way to know” We say the exact opposite. We take for granted that He is Mechadesh bechol yom. you said it today, you will say it this evening and tomorrow iyh.
“I’m not sure there’s anything “backwards” in posing a question on an earlier source based on what a later source says….See, for just one example, baba basra 81b where the gemara questions a beraisah based on what r’ zeira says.”
firstly The difference between A Nefesh Hachaim and Gemara is much greater than the diffeecne between R’ Zeira and a beraisa. If anything Gemara is a tenent of our faith. Thus if anything Chazaka is a tennet of our faith, and one who rejects the concept of chazaka is an apikores according to the Rambam Teshuva 3:7. I’m not sure that one who rejects a nefesh hachaim or midrahs in Tehillim is in the same category
Secondly the question there isnt on the Beraisa.
Briefly:
The Gemara is discussing what to do with safek bikkurim cant just bring it to the azara if not since that is chulin leazara, so the gemara says he is makdish it. …The Gemara asks but if it is chulin by being makdish it he cant give teruma and maaser from it. Answers that Teruma, masser sheni and ani can be eaten by poor kohein who is podeh it. the Gemara asks what about maaser levi ?
so the Gemara brings a beraisa that accoring to R’ Elazar ben azarya MAssr rishon can be given to Kohein “Teruma gedola goes to a kohein and maaser rishon to levi accoridng to R’ akiva. R’ Elazar ben Azarya says Maaser levi goes to a kohein” (this is the end of the beraisa)
Then the Gemara asks what about saying parshas bikkurim ?
Answers reading isnt meaakev
Then the gemara asks on that answer (not on the beraisa) from R’ Zeira of kol harai lebila…