Hiddush: Difference between revisions

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In [[Rabbinic literature]], '''Chidushḥiddush''' ({{lang-he|חִדּוּשׁ}}; alsoplural '''ḥiddushim''', {{lang-he|חִדּוּשׁים}}){{notetag|Often translated into English as '''[[wikt:novellae#Noun|novellae]]'''. Also [[Hebrew transliteration|transliterated]] as '''chiddush''', '''hiddushchidush''' or '''hidush'''), sometimes used in its plural form, '''chidushim''' ({{lang-he|חִדּוּשׁים.}}), isrefers to a novel interpretation or approach to somethingpreviously-existing ideas or works.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Olitzky |first1=Kerry |last2=Isaacs |first2=Ronald |title=A Glossary of Jewish Life |publisher=Jason Aronson |date=May 1996 |isbn=978-1568219653}}</ref><ref>"Creative interpretation" is how Rav [[Joseph B. Soloveitchik]] cites Rav [[Chaim of Volozhin]], https://consistentlyunderconstruction.wordpress.com/category/torah-musings/page/3</ref>

HistoricallyThe referringterm tooften Torahdescribes topicsa form of innovation that is made inside the system of ''[[Halakha]]'', as distinguished from ''[[shinuy]]'', an innovation outside tradition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eng.ichacha.net/zaoju/chiddushim.html|title=Chiddushim in a sentence - chiddushim sentence}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.breslovtorah.com/shiurim/cal-02-iyar-pesach-sheni-yahrzeit-rabbi-meir-baal-haness |title=CAL-02 – Iyar – Pesach Sheni – Yahrzeit of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess &#124; BreslovTorah.com |access-date=2017-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820164903/https://www.breslovtorah.com/shiurim/cal-02-iyar-pesach-sheni-yahrzeit-rabbi-meir-baal-haness/ |archive-date=2017-08-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the term is widely used in [[rabbinic literature]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Levi |first=Leo |title=Torah Study: A Survey of Classic Sources on Timely Issues |publisher=ALPHA |edition=1st |date=November 1990 |chapter=Chidush (Innovation) |isbn=978-0873065559}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Blech |first=Benjamin |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism |publisher=Feldheim |edition=2nd |date=September 2003 |chapter=Chapter 9: The Later Voices of Judaism |isbn=978-1592571314}}</ref> to describe a form of innovation that is made inside the system of the [[halakha]], as distinguished from [[shinuy]], an innovation outside tradition.<ref>Sinclair, Rabbi Julian. [https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/chiddush-1.5946 "Chiddush"], ''[[The Jewish Chronicle]]'', November 5, 2008. Accessed January 31, 2017. "Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (1903-93) distinguishes between chiddush, innovation within a tradition, and shinui, change which represents a sharp break from tradition. In Rabbi Soloveitchik's view, chiddush is an aspect of imitatio Dei (imitation of God). Through it we become creative partners with God in the unfolding of the Torah's meanings. On the other hand, shinui, which is not deeply rooted in traditional knowledge, risks becoming subjective and arbitrary."</ref>

{{em|ChidushḤiddush}} comes from the Hebrew root word {{emLang|chadash}} ({{lang-he|חדשח-ד-שׁ}}), meaning {{em|new}}. The usage of the word in this context originated from the language of [[Talmudic]] analysis and argumentation in the [[Gemara]].<ref name="JoysofHebrew">{{cite book |last=Glinert |first=Lewis |title=The Joys of Hebrew |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=November 1993 |isbn=978-0195086683 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/joysofhebrew00glin_0 }}</ref> It passed into [[Yiddish]], where it is at times used informally.

What "powers" Chidushimḥiddushim? ''MaaYana Shel Torah''<ref>a 5 volume set by Rabbi [[Alexander Zusia Friedman]]</ref> asks regarding "VaYayLech Moshe" (31:1) - where—where did he go? and answers that he went into everyone: ''NichNas Moshe Rabbeinu LeToch ToCho Shel Kol Adam MiYisroel.'' This, he writes, is the basis of people having/writing ChiDuShim.

Although "any chiddush''ḥiddush'' (novel idea) which a reputable disciple will ever come up with was already given to Moses by Sinai,"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/819698/jewish/How-Is-the-Torah-Interpreted.htm|title=How Is the Torah Interpreted?|last=Silberberg |first=Naftali |accessdate=2017-02-07}}</ref> in one [[rabbi]]'s understanding of a particular ruling, he wrote: "I have always understood Rabbi Feinstein to be insisting on a balance between innovation and tradition.<ref name=Atlanta>{{cite web|url=http://hirhurim.blogspot.com/2008/08/role-of-chiddush.html|title=The Role of Chiddush: The View of One Paragraph in Iggerot Moshe ...|last=Broyde |first=Michael J.|date=10 August 2008|accessdate=2017-02-08}}</ref>

Chidushim''Ḥiddushim'' are the ongoing results of a process<ref name=E.Jud72/><ref>"the results of a method of study of rabbinical literature which derives new ideas from talmudic and also rabbinic texts, in order to clarify halakhah."</ref> and, as a form of [[Kavod HaTorah|K’vod Hatorah]], we're required not to forget them. New ways to recall what we learn can be a form of chidush''ḥiddush''.<ref>Rav [[Avigdor Nebenzahl]], {{cite web

* Although it is a Torah command for Kohanim to bless the people, there might be a chidush''ḥiddush'' whether it is obligatory upon those who are not Kohanim to make themselves available to receive these blessings.<ref>{{cite web

==Forms of chidush''ḥiddush''==

: By itself it might seem like at best a minor chidush''ḥiddush''. When published amidst a collection of many other such 3-word phrases about the day of rest, the title has justified use of the plural form: chidushim''ḥiddushim''.

Among the first post-[[Geonim|Geonic]] writers of chidushim''ḥiddushim''<ref name=E.Jud72/>{{rp|pp.465–466}} are:

* [[Nachmanides]] was the first to write chidushim''ḥiddushim'' on the [[Chumash (Judaism)|Chumash]].<ref name=J.Enc1906/>

By the late sixteenth century, with printing an established technology, hair-splitting distinctions into the treatment of [[halakah|halakic]]-[[Talmud]]ic themes became more frequent,<ref name=J.Enc1906/> with chidush''ḥiddush''-driven works such as those by:

A counter-intuitive use of the term was the [[Moses Sofer|Chasam Sofer]]'s novel interpretation of the phrase '''[[Chadash]] asur min haTorah''', ("'new' is forbidden by the Torah"). The phrase as originally used is regarding the laws of keeping [[kosher]], whereas his use was regarding changes being made by the [[Reform movement in Judaism|Reform movement]] in Europe: it was a way of saying no - butno—but using a pun.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/857655/rabbi-elli-fischer/chatam-sofer-on-the-meaning-of-chadash-assur-min-hatorah-|title = YUTorah Online - Chatam Sofer on the Meaning of "Chadash Assur Min HaTorah" (Rabbi Elli Fischer)}}</ref>

{{em|Chidush}}In hasits becomeregular, assimilatedcontemporary, intouse, [[American English]].<ref>{{cite news em|date=30 November 2016 |title=Professor to speak on Yiddish's influence on the English language |website=Jewish News - Your Community Weekly Serving Greater Phoenix & Northern Arizona |url=http://www.jewishaz.com/community/professor-to-speak-on-yiddish-s-influence-on-the-english/article_9807729a-b713-11e6-8eb2-c39165fc62c7.html |quote=[[Sarah Bunin Benor]], associate professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and adjunct associate professor of linguistics at the University of Southern California, will speak on 'Chutzpah to Chidush: A Century of Yiddish-Influenced English in America'ḥiddush}}</ref> Inmeans itsa regularnovel use,or itinnovative means an(or unusual or innovative) idea or point,;<ref>{{cite book |last=Pava |first=Moses |title=Leading With Meaning: Using Covenantal Leadership to Build a Better Organization |publisher=St. Martin's Press |date=April 2003 |isbn=978-1403961327}}</ref><ref name="JoysofHebrew" /> thoughexamples: the word is also commonly used in an ironic or humorous fashion, so as to imply that the statement in question is nothing new.

:* "He is famous for his original insights on ..." (review: Rabbi [[Dovid Feinstein]] - Kol Dodi On Torah)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mostlymusic.com/products/rabbi-david-feinstein-kol-dodi-on-torah|title=Rabbi David Feinstein - Kol Dodi On Torah|accessdate=2017-02-13|archive-date=2017-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214103003/https://mostlymusic.com/products/rabbi-david-feinstein-kol-dodi-on-torah|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [httphttps://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/28738/what-is-the-importance-of-chiddush What is the importance of Chiddush]