Shalom Carmy

YESHIVA COLLEGE

May 1996

PART I: Answer 8 of 11

1. In Ma Dodekh miDod, why do intellectual honesty, charismatic teaching and other such attributes characterize the halakhic man more than they do the garden variety lamdan?

2. Contrasting apprehensions of temporality in covenantal and majestic communities (Lonely Man). How does the Rav explain the appearance of similar structures in general philosophy? Example.

3. Halakha as exoteric: discuss the different ways the Rav appeals to this idea in Halakhic Man and U-Bikkashtem. Does he ever qualify this notion?

4. In Kol Dodi Dofek, the Rav contrasts halakhic theodicy with both causal and teleological explanations. What might he mean?

5. Define devekut as presented in U-Bikkashtem. Contrast to competing conceptions of devekut. How does Halakha foster the possibility of devekut?

6. Discuss the major religious and social differences between Breshit 1 and 2 as they affect the analysis of Lonely Man.

7. Discuss in detail Halakhic Man's view of death, both in principle and on the basis of sources. How is it connected to R. Hayyim's and the Rav's approach to contemporary history?

8. What role does hidammut (=imitatio) play in Halakhic Man? How does this connect to U-Bikkashtem?

9. Why is the modern philosophical and scientific situation, as opposed to that of the middle ages, propitious for religion? Refer to U-Bikkashtem and Halakhic Mind.

10. Discuss carefully the two areas in which R. Velvele was critical of assumptions popular among religious Zionists.

11. How (and why) does the Rav establish his conception of G-d's love for man? How does he square his view with Rambam's doctrine of the divine attributes?

PART II: BONUS!

A) Outline the lecture you intend to give, in Halakha and Aggada, for Mickey Mantle's first yahrzeit.

B) Explain berit yeud and berit goral to Woody Allen.

C) Identify: Pinhas Sapir, Yosef Sapir, Dr Isadore Snapper and Sapphire Stevens.

Thank you for helping to make the semester enjoyable and productive. I hope you have found it equally worth your while. I can be reached during summer at

915 East 17th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230

tel. 718-252-0496

e-mail carmy@ymail.yu.edu

Last update: 02/11/99.

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