The Gerrer Rebbe on Textual Criticism

On Page 16, footnote 3 of R’Heshey Zelcer "A Guide to the Jerusalem Talmud: The Compilation and Composition of the Jerusalem Talmud, the Cultural, Economic and Political Conditions in the Land of Israel During Its Development" there is a fascinating anecdote recorded. It brings to my mind the Rambam’s dictum "accept the truth from whoever says it". I personally find this story quite inspiring, and as an example of the path we should follow.

I was telling a friend of mine, a hasid of Gur, about the recently published Synopsis li-Talmud ha-Yerushalmi, which contains the transcript of all available Yerushalmi manuscripts. He told me that he would be visiting R’Pinhus Meneham Altter the Grand Rabbi of Gur and he would like to present him with a copy as a gift. I expressed my astonishment that he would think it appropriate to offer the Rabbi of Gur these volumes which were recently published by non-Jews in Germany. He insisted that it would be appreciated and on his next trip to Israel he presented the gift. When he returned to the United States I asked my friend how the Rebbe reacted to the gift. He told me that the Rebbe accepted the gift and when he met the Rebbe a few days later the Rebbe told him that based on what he noticed in the text of manuscript, zekz kashes zenen mir farenfert gevarin, six difficulties I had with the Yerushalmi were resolved.

During a meeting with Prof Yaakov Sussman at Hebrew University he told me that with the blessings of the Rabbi of Gur, certain Hasidim who were working on the Yerushalmi would come to consult with him about the Yerushalmi. After a year of on-going contacts the Rebbe told them, you’ve accomplished what you set out to do, it is now time to stop any further contact.


For a contrasting view, see here for a discussion of the view of the Chazon Ish on this matter as well as the discussion on the Hirhurim comments section.

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