The Kuzari, in trying to solve
the problem of Lo Tosiphu (do not add) Deut 13:1, points to some cases where in
the TeNaCh, certain changes were made, eg King Solomon brought sacrifices
outside of the altar and celebrated 7 + 7 days etc. Nehemiah instituted a tax
of one third of a Shekel.
He then claims, that the Law of Lo Toisphu applies to the masses,
whereas the Sanhedrin can do what they like.
This is disingenuous for
several reasons.
1) The examples he gave were not new laws but special cases. In Solomon's
time, it was a one off, when the Temple was
completed, and not part of the actual Temple
service. Nehemiah's tax was precisely
that, a tax and not the half shekel which was to count Israel for
atonement.
2) In Numbers 15 it states: 16 One law and one ordinance shall
be both for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you
Halevi is actually saying the opposite of this. He is saying one law
for the Rabbis, and another for everyone else.
3) He makes a very twisted argument about counting the Omer. He accepts that Lev 23:15 " And ye shall count unto you from the
morrow after the day of rest" refers to Shabbat. But he says this is incidental, since in that
year it was on the day after Shabbat (sunday), but the next year it could be
any other day. Thus, he argues, this
instruction is just an example. So
according to this logic, the rabbinical
fixture of the day after the first day of Hag Hamatzot is also an example, and could fall on any
day? No, says the Kuzari, the day was finally fixed on this day by the
rabbis!
This is the most fallacious argumentation I have seen in a long time.
It is complete nonsense. It is not even circular argumentation, it is a falsism
- it is a falsehood for falsehood's sake!
So much for the Kuzari.
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