Pemikiran Yahudi Mazmur 119:99: Akeidat Yitzchak & Yesod Mora VeSod HaTorah

It is worthwhile to examine Ben Zoma's statement in detail, especially the scriptural proof he cites for each of his dictums. Concerning the attainment of wisdom, Ben Zoma quotes Psalms 119,99, "I have learned from all those who teach me." This sounds quite inappropriate. Surely, not everyone is qualified to teach merely because he wants to! Even if we understand the word melamdai in the sense of "who are more learned than I," the word used should have been melumdai. The truth of the matter is, however, that true wisdom is reserved for the Almighty by definition. He alone possesses knowledge that embraces every subject matter. He alone understands the interrelation between all phenomena. Human wisdom is only a state of comparative ignorance, by comparison. The wisest human being is he who is somewhat less ignorant than his peers. Realising this, a wise man demonstrates that he is aware of his monumental ignorance by being prepared to increase his knowledge, drawing on any source of information that helps to reduce his ignorance. True scholars,-while not too proud to learn from anyone-, are able to integrate information secured from unlikely sources into the existing fabric of information they already command. In this way, any new piece of information enlarges and widens their existing knowledge, sometimes adding a completely new dimension. The same piece of information which is hardly meaningful when in the hands of an ignoramus, may be of immense value to the scholar. Of such men Solomon says "the wise will hear and add additional instruction." (Proverbs 1,5) The meaning of our verse in Psalms 119,99, then is "I have obtained more comprehensive knowledge through all those who have instructed me."

The one who constantly engages in the study of the Torah, if they have a discerning heart, the Torah becomes their own, and their soul gains understanding beyond what their teachers have taught them. This is expressed in the verse (Psalms 119:99), "From all my teachers, I have gained understanding." How honorable are the words of the ancients who said that everyone is obligated to observe all the commandments and the various statutes that our ancestors established, without seeking reasons for why these commandments were given. Indeed, there are many wondrous and hidden commandments, and if a person does not observe them until they understand their reasons, they will remain without Torah and be likened to a youth who refuses to eat bread until they know how it was plowed, sown, harvested, winnowed, ground, kneaded, baked, and cooked. If they act this way, they will perish from hunger. Rather, it is appropriate to always eat and gradually inquire as one grows, until they know all the questions. Similarly, a discerning person can comprehend many reasons in the Torah that are explained in great detail, while some are explained to only one in a thousand individuals. Our master Moses, peace be upon him, said regarding all the commandments (Deuteronomy 4:6), "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people." And if these commandments did not have reasons that we could understand their goodness, how could the nations say that these statutes are righteous and we who observe them are wise? Now, let me mention some of the reasons that are mentioned in the Torah.