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Rav Kook's Teachings

Rabbi Chanan Morrison

Style versus Content

After the Flood, Noah blessed his away from their fathers’ faith. Thus they through which to express our thoughts
son Yefet: “May God expand Yefet, forcefully declared: “Cursed be the one and ideas. The external language does
and may he dwell in the tents of Shem.” who teaches his son Greek wisdom” not influence or harm the inner content.
(Genesis 9:27) (Bava Kama 82b).
We have no need to borrow from
hat does this blessing mean? The language of this decree specifically the content of foreign cultures when
Why should Yefet live in forbids teaching Greek wisdom. In other our own traditions are so rich and
W Shem’s tents? words, it is permitted to study it, but not stimulating, ennobling both the
to teach it. Young students must first individual and society as a whole.
The Sages noted that Yefet was the acquire a solid basis in Torah, and only But we may adopt from other peoples
ancestor of ancient Greece. As such, then will they be able to discern the
Yefet’s blessing relates to the special difference between the Torah of Israel that which adds external beauty and
accomplishments of the Greeks, and the philosophy of Greece. elegance. Even after the culture clash
especially in the realm of the arts and with Hellenism, the Sages still taught
aesthetics (the name Yefet is related to that it is fitting to adopt stylistic
the Hebrew word yofi, meaning beauty). enhancements – “May the beauty of
As the Talmud states in Megillah 9b: Yefet reside in the tents of Shem.”
“May the beauty of Yefet reside in the This approach is not limited to ancient
tents of Shem.” Greece, but is true for all foreign
cultures. It is not inappropriate for us
The blessing links Yefet and Shem
together through the cultures of their to utilize the innovations and talents
descendants, Greece and Israel. Yet the of other nations. After all, the focus
relationship between these two nations of the Jewish people is primarily on
was never simple. We know from the inner matters, on ethical and spiritual
story of Chanukah that these two advancement.
civilizations clashed violently during Even for the construction of the holy
the Second Temple period. How then Temple, we find that King Solomon
can the beauty of Greek culture reside turned to Hiram, the king of Tyre, for
harmoniously in the tents of Israel?
his workers’ expertise in cutting down
Style versus Content and preparing the wood, “for we have
Studying Greek Wisdom none among us who knows how to
We find that the Talmud makes a second
On the one hand, the Sages placed no distinction regarding Greek culture. hew timber like the Zidonians” (Kings
explicit prohibition against studying “Greek language is one thing, but 1 5:20). Solomon used artisans from
Greek philosophy. They were content Greek wisdom is another” (Bava Kama other nations to chop the wood and
to give general guidance, such as Rabbi 83a). The intent of this statement is to quarry the large stones for the Temple.
Yishmael’s instruction to his nephew: differentiate between style and content. But after these external preparations, it
“Find an hour that is neither day nor was the Jewish people who secured the
night, and study Greek wisdom at that Greek wisdom, as a philosophy and an Sanctuary’s inner holiness.
time” (Menachot 99b). outlook on life, profoundly detracts from
the sacred and defiles the holy.
Regarding the education of youth,
however, the Sages were more The Greek language, on the other
circumspect. They feared that the hand, poses no challenge of ideas and Rabbi Chanan Morrison is the author of
outward appeal and beauty of Greek beliefs. Greek is a rich and sophisticated several books on Rav Kook's writings
wisdom would lure the next generation language, and is an appropriate vehicle www.RavKookTorah.org

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Illustration of Rav Kook courtesy of www.gedolimcanvas.com