Books of Wisdom by Non-Jews

I read on a website that there is an issue with reading books about the human soul written by non-Jews. So why do they say "Chochma bagoyim taamin"? Where is the boundary?

Hello Rabbi

Indeed, there is a difference between other forms of wisdom and the wisdom of the soul.

Regarding wisdom in general, it is said, "Chochma bagoyim taamin." Throughout the generations, the sages of Israel have established their understanding of reality based on the words of the sages of that generation. For example, in matters of medicine, which relate to various laws, [such as: desecrating the Sabbath for the treatment of a patient, which is permitted in a place of danger, listening to medical experts about what is considered a danger. And so regarding fasting on Yom Kippur for a patient], and also in the wisdom of engineering, which relates to many issues in the Gemara [such as: measuring the size of a mikveh, the size of a sukkah built in a circle or on a diagonal] and many other matters in the Torah were established according to the sages of the nations of the world in each generation.

However, regarding the soul, building the soul according to the Torah is completely different from building it according to the wisdom of the non-Jews.

Non-Jews view a person as a body and an earthly soul, similar to animals and beasts. According to their view, a person is just a slightly more advanced living being, and nothing more.

According to this understanding, what is required of a person's soul is only to enjoy properly, to be free and unrestrained, and we try to teach him how to ignore the barriers he has to reach this goal.

A person with a healthy soul according to this view is a person who has no inhibitions from doing whatever he wants, just as we would define any animal with a healthy soul.

According to non-Jewish psychology, a person should do as his inclinations lead him, even if they are forbidden by the Torah, for example, in the matter of choosing a partner, and so on.

These sages are correct according to their view, for we do not demand from an animal or a beast to act differently from how nature leads it. We do not expect a lion to eat grass, nor a cat to spread wings.

According to the role of the nations of the world, there is no problem with this, as long as a person does not violate the seven Noahide laws, there is no problem for him to act in any way he wishes.

However, this is not the role of Jews in the world. A Jew, besides having a body and a soul, also has a higher spiritual soul, he has a very responsible role in the world — the role of revealing the kingdom of God in the world, and conducting himself according to a list of detailed and precise instructions and prohibitions. Accordingly, he has many restrictions in every area, eating, drinking, marriage, times of the day, Sabbath, various holidays, fasts, restrictions in actions, seeing, hearing, and more.

A Jew is forbidden to follow the desires of his heart, even if his physical and mental nature leads him there. And even if as a result, he will be 'not free' and 'not spontaneous'.

A Jew who immerses himself in such theories, even if he is not convinced that he is allowed to violate prohibitions, he might be convinced that he 'must' violate prohibitions.

That is, he might err and be convinced that if he does not violate the prohibition, he might be harmed in his soul, and he has a permit of 'pikuach nefesh'...

Unfortunately, this is not a joke, but a painful reality that has already been adopted by many naive Jews, who, although they are fundamentally observant of the commandments, but because they have confused their minds with various heretical theories, which believe, among other things, in the need to provide the soul with 'release' from all burden and restriction. It has become clear to them that today it is impossible to stand by various prohibitions written in the Torah. To the extent that one can see articles by people [some of whom call themselves 'rabbis'] who permit clear prohibitions, in light of the fact that 'the generations have changed', and 'her ways are ways of pleasantness', so that 'it is impossible' to prohibit today.

The results of this approach can be seen today, in the place where the Reform movement has reached. The beginning of the movement was in minor changes in conduct and 'adaptation' of the Torah commandments to the time and spirit of the time. And over time, the changes expanded, and commandments that did not 'fit the spirit of the time' were uprooted. To the extent that today one can find 'rabbis', who do not believe in God and the Torah, conducting marriage ceremonies between Jews and Christians, and deliberately kicking against all the commandments of the Torah.

A God-fearing Jew knows that the world was created in accordance with the commandments of the Torah, so if his understanding of reality does not align with the commandments of the Torah, it is likely that his understanding is incorrect, but the Torah was and will remain as it is.

It is known the parable given by the great ones of the generations, that the central clock in each city is set on a high tower, where there is no access for every person, so the residents must adjust their clocks according to the city clock. But if they were to place the clock in an accessible place for everyone, every passerby would change the central clock according to his personal clock.

Thus a God-fearing Jew knows that the Torah is like a clock on a tower, which cannot be changed by everyone, but we must adjust ourselves according to the 'clock' set by the Creator.

Eicha Rabba, P"B

If someone tells you there is wisdom among the nations, believe it, as it is said: "And I will destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau" (Obadiah 1:8). If someone tells you there is Torah among the nations, do not believe it, as it is said: "Her king and her princes are among the nations, there is no Torah."