Murex Tekhelet and Halachic Principals
It is at least a little conceited to think that he [Rav Herzog] would agree to P'til's answers to all of his objections, let alone think the Radzyner Rebbe would also accept P'til's position. I do not think it is the way of Torah or science to make such claims.
I disagree with this assertion. We have to differentiate between halachic principles and the application of those principles to a given situation. Just as it is not "conceited" to discuss the Rambam's opinion regarding turning on a light on shabbat, it is perfectly acceptable to examine what the Radzyner or Rav Herzog would say about a particular candidate for the chilazon - given their writings on the halachic criteria for accepting or rejecting a chilazon. The Radzyner writes (Sefunei T'munei Chol, page 14, 1999 edition):
If after searching, our hands will obtain the blood [secretion] of any kind of chilazon from which we may dye a color similar to tekhelet, a dye that retains its beauty and does not change, we will surely be able to fulfill the mitzvah of tekhelet without any doubt.
Assuming that the color of tekhelet is indigo (an assumption that many, though not all, poskim accept), then according to the Radzyner, tekhelet from Murex would be kosher. Similarly, Rav Herzog has his criteria for examining the "kashrut" of a chilazon. According to the data available to him, he felt that the Murex was problematic. If new data is discovered, then we have to assess Rav Herzog's position on the basis of his halachic principles and the correct information - not on the basis of the information that was available to him 100 years ago! For example, if Rav Herzog felt that one condition for kosher tekhelet is that the dye does not fade, and he thought that Murex dye fades, then he would have found Murex to be problematic. If we now know that properly dyed Murex extract is among the fastest dyes in the world, then the Murex is no longer problematic (at least in terms of this particular criterion) - even according to Rav Herzog.
If we take the position of the Tifferet Yisrael, that the sufficient conditions for kosher tekhelet are the correct color and a dye that won't fade, then Murex tekhelet would be kosher. According to Rav Ariel of Machon Hamikdash, this opinion would accept Radzyn tekhelet as well, so that both Radzyn and Murex tekhelet would be kosher.
If we look at the opinion of Rav Soloveitchik z"l (not the Beis Halevi - I mean the Rav) that without an unbroken tradition as to the identity of the chilazon, one can not consider a chilazon to be halachically valid, then neither Radzyn nor Murex tekhelet would be acceptable even if they were in fact the very same species used in the times of the gemara.
If one accepts the position attributed to the AR"I, that the mitzvah of tekhelet will/can not be reinstated until Mashiach comes, then you can draw the appropriate halachic conclusions.
The same principle would apply to other halachic positions - we can extrapolate from their writings, even if they never heard of Murex.
The bottom line - and really the only line - that P'Til Tekhelet asserts is that according to some views, Murex dye is kosher for tekhelet. As such, we make the strings available for those people whose understanding of the various and complex halachic issues lead them to the conclusion that they would like to wear tsitsit with Murex tekhelet. If someone feels in light of the different opinions and data that they would rather wear Radzyn tekhelet or wear only white - or even that they would rather not wear tsitsit at all - that is a halachic decision that any bar-hachi has the right to make.
|
|||
|
|||