Dear Avirah,
I can’t fathom why you would have such aggression toward learning properly as opposed to yelling from the rooftops. The fact is that a question from the metziyus is dealt with the same as a question from a different gemara. You would never find a Tosofos that says, we don’t bother with such questions.
There wouldn’t be any of these “rationalists” if there wouldn’t be any “fundamentalists” telling everyone how to think about learning instead of actually learning and actually thinking. I really don’t understand your position here. I am not here to correct the record.
Let me contrast two examples.
1) It is taught that washing of the hands after touching Sifrei Kodesh was instituted to prevent the problem of vermin that were attracted to Terumah produce from eating Seforim that were placed alongside them. One can interject that the mitziyus is that more species would be attracted to the Seforim of old then those that are known to eat stored produce. This may seem like a serious problem to the layman. But it is silliness to the real student. Chazal seemingly did not forbid placing Terumah alongside Seforim. This needs to be investigated fully before it would be of any consequence what the actual mitziyus is. Also, every serious person knows that whatever the mitziyus may be, it makes no difference to the present requirement to wash our hands. One who brings up this as a point of interest, is only highlighting their lack of interest in learning the actual sugya.
2) THe first Mishna in B”K lists four Avos Nizekin. Yet, the Gemara brings to larger lists. Also, there seems to be a discrepancy between Rav and Shmuel as to how much these four are comprehensive of anything. However, the first Tosofos does not claim to read the Mishna as specifically being exclusive. Even more, you should have studied the piece that there are no actual avos at all.
We are obliged to apply ourself to all these tangents and none of these seeming contradictions allow us to think that there isn’t a specific and exact method going on here. We keep studying in pursuit of the truth. One who leaves the beis medrash because Rav Chiya/Rav Oyshia/Rav/Shmuel/Rabbeinu Chananel/Tosofos/Pnei Yehoshua/Chassam Sofer/Brisker Rav/Rav Elyashiv/ is seemingly not in accordance with the basic statement of the Mishna, never came to the beis medrash to learn. They just want a “fundamentalist” position and when they saw the nuance and depth they leave for an easier enterprise.
It is the same thinking pattern. Learning is attaining new awareness through knowledge. If we deny some new awareness, in effect we are stopping to learn at some level.
No, but thank you.
While the “rationalist” and “fundamentalist” camps curse each other out, the real traditionalist camp continues to toil in Torah in obscurity. And they are fine with it. They do not have time for people who do not want to learn anything, new or old.